South Africa has one of the longest prison sentences in the world. The average sentence for murder is 16 years, while the average for armed robbery is 11 years. However, these numbers do not reflect the true length of time served, as many prisoners are released on parole after serving only a fraction of their sentence.
Why are prison sentences in South Africa so long?
The high crime rate in South Africa is one of the main reasons why prison sentences are so long. With a murder rate of nearly 30 per 100,000 people, the country has one of the highest rates of violent crime in the world. This has put a strain on the country’s prisons, which are overcrowded and often violent themselves.
In addition to the high crime rate, the South African legal system is also slow and backlogged. This means that prisoners can often be waiting years for their appeals to be heard. For many, the wait is simply too long and they end up serving the majority of their sentence before being released.
The long prison sentences in South Africa are a reflection of the country’s high crime rate and inefficient legal system. However, for many prisoners, these sentences are simply too long and they end up serving the majority of their time behind bars.
