Corruption in South African society is subverting and bedevilling the work of honest, caring policemen and women, the Anglican Primate and Archbishop of Cape Town, The Most Revd. Njongonkulu Ndungane, said on 8 June. if we allow prisoners to be released, only to commit a crime again and be returned to prison."
The early release of prisoners who have immediately re-offended has prompted outrage in South Africa on several occasions in recent years.
The Archbishop committed the Church, through its congregations and other organisations, to offer its services for the moral reconstruction of society "based on the sanctity of human life, respect for the other person and to inculcate a spirit of tolerance".
He also offered the Church's services to the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Department of Correctional Services, which manages the country's prisons. "If they are keen for assistance in the field of team building, conflict resolution and pastoral care, then I will use my influence to persuade our partner Churches to ask all our chaplains to assist in this task."
He called on all South Africans to show greater respect for the police, and to work for reconciliation and peace, and the kingdom of God.
Speaking at a meeting in Cape Town organised by the Western Cape Provincial Council of Churches, on the subject of crime and violence, Archbishop Ndungane said that the country's criminal justice system, including the correctional services system, was crying out for reform.
"It is the corruption in the police service, the organs of state, the business world. It is the graft we see in society that makes us shake our heads in disbelief that seemingly good people will act in such a manner - that they will abuse the trust of stewardship that has been placed in their hands. It is a corruption that cannot be tolerated," the Archbishop said.
Archbishop Ndungane also called for a tightening of management of the security forces so that bail conditions were adhered to and prisoners were not released early due to administrative bungles.