Mofokeng and Mokoena petitions: further deliberations

NCOP Petitions and Executive Undertakings

04 May 2010
Chairperson: Mr A Nyambi (ANC; Mpumalanga)
Share this page:

Meeting Summary

[PMG did not attend the meeting and was given a summary of what had transpired]


The Committee continued with its deliberations on the petitions of Mr Fusi Mofokeng and Mr Tshokolo Mokoena. Both individuals had been convicted, under the doctrine of common purpose, of three crimes and were currently serving the eighteenth year of their life sentences, despite maintaining their innocence. In the previous meeting, Members had resolved that the Minister and Director-General of Correctional Services be asked to attend a meeting of the Committee at which the matter could be fully discussed, and the views of the Committee clearly stated, so that the Minister could convey fully informed recommendations to the President in respect of a Section 82 application for pardon.

 

The ANC study group had met with the Minister of Correctional Services the previous day. The Minister had assured the study group that the matter was being given serious attention and that she would appear before the Committee probably in the next two weeks to thrash out all the issues and recommendations. It was decided that two members of the Committee would be visiting Kroonstad in the following week to update the petitioners of the developments.

Meeting report

The Chairperson recalled that in the previous meeting, presentations had been received from the Chief State Law Advisor and the Department of Correctional Services, outlining the options open to the petitioners. All the options required the petitioners to admit wrongdoing and to show remorse, which they could not do as they insisted on their innocence. The petitioners could well have been released had they agreed to admit guilt but had consistently maintained their innocence. However, in terms of Section 82 of the Correctional Services Act, the President retained the discretion to grant a Presidential pardon or to reduce a sentence.

Members had resolved that the Minister and Director-General of Correctional Services be asked to attend a meeting of the Committee at which the matter could be fully discussed, and the views of the Committee clearly stated, so that the Minister could convey fully informed recommendations to the President in respect of a Section 82 application for pardon.


The Chairperson informed the Committee that the ANC study group had met with the Minister of Correctional Services the previous day. The Minister had assured the study group that the matter was being given serious attention and that she would appear before the Committee probably in the next two weeks to thrash out all the issues and recommendations.

 

The Chairperson indicated that two members of the Committee would be visiting Kroonstad in the following week to update the petitioners of the developments.

 

Members did not oppose this suggestion.

 

The Committee had dealt with the Office of the President and the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and would now engage with the Department of Correctional Services.

 

The meeting was adjourned.

 

Audio

No related

Documents

No related documents

Present

  • We don't have attendance info for this committee meeting

Download as PDF

You can download this page as a PDF using your browser's print functionality. Click on the "Print" button below and select the "PDF" option under destinations/printers.

See detailed instructions for your browser here.

Share this page: