Thousand of children 'under correction' - SA

Statistics by the Department of Correctional Services indicate that of the country's provinces Kwazulu-Natal, with 957, has the highest number of juveniles incarcerated. This was followed by the Western Cape, with 810 children, and Gauteng with 719 children.

The figures were released by the Minister of Correctional Services Ben Skosana while he was speaking during the ministerial Imbizo outreach programme at the Ekuseni Youth Centre in Newcastle.

Skosana said statistics also recently released by the Inspecting judge, Hannes Fagan, indicated that 60% of prisoners were under the age of 30 years.

Skosana said the department believed that no child should be in prison. "We must find ways and means of alternative sentencing so that young offenders do not turn out to be hardened criminals.

http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=22222