Here’s HOW many offenders abscond bail in South Africa

Following controversial news of a taxpayer ‘bail fund’, here’s how many offenders abscond bail each year in South Africa …

Tens of thousands of offenders abscond bail in South Africa each year. Image: File

Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu has disclosed how many offenders abscond bail in South Africa each year. The Police Minister was responding to a parliamentary question regarding the controversial new initiative that will see taxpayer money fund bail of R1 000 for minor offenders.

According to the minister, their records site 16 012 offenders who abscond bail in South Africa. Moreover, 4 516 of these are cases that are more than five years old, reports TimesLive. And 262 of those absconders are foreign nationals with filed cases.

OFFENDERS ABSCOND BAIL IN SOUTH AFRICA

Mother of the missing child from Saldanha Bay is awaiting trial in prison while pregnant. — A high number of offenders abscond after posting bail. Image: Unsplash/Ye Jinghan

Given the near-breakdown of the justice system, if offenders abscond bail it’s highly unlikely they will ever be rearrested. Overcrowding in South African prisons – 157% over-subscribed in certain jails – is reaching epidemic proportions. As a result, a taxpayer ‘bail fund’ for detainees who cannot afford the cost of minimum bail is in the works, reports The Citizen.

Retired Justice Edwin Cameron of the Judicial Inspectorate has proposed the new taxpayer ‘bail fund.’ Giving an entirely new spin on: “If you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime.” More like, if you don’t do too big a crime, you’ll get free bail! Typically, bail amounts vary based on the seriousness of the offence, the likelihood of the accused re-offending, and if/she is considered a flight risk. Petty theft, common assault, or possession of a minimal amount of drugs is considered a minor offence. Most often, bail is not an option for serious crimes like rape, murder, hijacking and armed robbery.

SUSPECTS NEED TO BE REARRESTED

Given free bail below a certain amount, will this not encourage criminals to commit petty crimes? Image: File

Nevertheless, Minister Mchunu did not specify how many offenders abscond bail with serious/violent crimes on their record. But we’d proffer it’s the majority of absconders. Also worrying was a statistic regarding the number of parolees who reoffended when let out of prison. Last year, parliament heard that 40% of inmates paroled (99 146) between 2019 to 2022 went on to commit serious crimes on the outside. As a result, the Department of Correctional Services has pledged to increase supervision and monitoring of former inmates.

Nevertheless, Mchunu admitted that when offenders abscond bail, cases have to be reopened if the suspects are rearrested. Former Justice Cameron does not place the blame on the Department of Correctional Services. Instead, he believes responsibility lies with parliament and the SAPS for failing to manage the process effectively. Hence his proposal for a taxpayer ‘bail fund’ to operate independently of SAPS and any government institutions to help detainees accused of petty offences.