Govt to release 35,000 from overcrowded South African jails

South African authorities today said they were releasing up to 35,000 inmates to ease overcrowding in the nation’s prisons.

Police minister Nathi Mthethwa said some 14,600 prisoners would be released “conditionally or unconditionally”, along with more than 20,000 offenders on probation or parole who qualify to have sentences cut.