Minister Ndebele: Mother-daughter conviction rate on the increase

Loyiso Langeni
04 March 2013

Correctional Services Minister Sibusiso Ndebele said there has been an increase in the number of women serving life sentences, as a result of killing their partners.

Ndebele said South Africa had 160 000 prison inmates, with teenagers as young as 17-years-old serving prison terms for serious crimes.

Ministerial Spokesperson Logan Maistry said the Department of Correctional Services has witnessed an increase and in a number of women serving life sentences as a result of killing their partners.

 “What is even more disturbing is that some of the women are serving time together with their daughters, who assisted in committing these murders after they themselves were direct or indirect victims of abuse by their fathers; in order for the rehabilitation to work, these women must be assisted to deal with to deal with the trauma caused by years of physical and emotional abuse” Maistry added.