Freedom Day for prisoners

Happy Freedom Day. Even if we aren’t feeling very free today, a lot of prisoners will. 

Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to announce the release of thousands of inmates today.  

Awaiting-trial prisoners and nonviolent offenders eligible for parole will be released to contain the spread of Covid-19 in overcrowded prisons. 

With severe overcrowding in prisons, social distancing is impossible. There are an estimated 162,875 prisoners in SA prisons – with bed spaces for only 118,572.