GEORGE NEWS - It is a well-known fact that South Africa's prisons are overpopulated and George is no exception. During the 2019 anti-crime summit, Koos Barnard of the department of correctional services (DCS) in George gave some statistics about correctional facilities in our area.

George Correctional Services has approved accommodation for 563 prisoners. Currently, 535 remanded detainees (prisoners who are refused bail or unable to meet bail conditions, or who are unable to post bail) and 530 sentenced offenders are housed there.

This totals 1 065 people.

In Mossel Bay there is approved accommodation for 346 inmates. Currently they have a total of 501 detainees, of which 162 are remanded and 339 are sentenced.

Knysna offers approved accommodation for 179 detainees. They currently house 373 in total, of which 226 are remanded and 147 are sentenced offenders.

Oudtshoorn Correctional Services are housing 300 more inmates than they have approved accommodation for. Currently they have 678 inmates, of which 234 are remanded and 444 are sentenced.

According to Barnard, inmates have access to various correctional programmes to assist them with rehabilitation from substance abuse, aggressive or sexual behaviour, gang-related issues and more.

They are also offered education and training through establishments like Abet, Fet colleges and Unisa.

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