CSO programme roll-out launches in Karasburg, Ariamsvlei

3,129 offenders have been sentenced to community service since the full implementation of the Community Service Order (CSO) programme in 2010.

Out of this figure, 2,781 offenders successfully completed their sentencing conditions by December 31, 2023, while 286 breached the conditions.

This was revealed by the Commissioner General of the Namibian Correctional Service, Raphael Hamunyela.  

Officiating at the CSO programme roll-out launch in Karasburg and Ariamsvlei, Commissioner General Hamunyela highlighted that CSO sentences help address overcrowding in correctional facilities.

The CSO programme sees offenders performing community service instead of serving jail time or paying a fine.

“Directing individuals with non-serious offences to participate in community service helps alleviate overcrowding in correctional facilities. This, in turn, facilitates better management of hardened criminals, fosters rehabilitation opportunities, and ultimately bolsters public safety.”

The Commissioner General encouraged the community to support offenders doing community service sentences on their journey to redemption.

Also speaking at the occasion was ||Kharas Governor Aletha Frederick. 

“We recognised the significance of the correctional service and our justice system, which play a crucial role in ensuring public safety, maintaining order, and providing opportunities for offenders to be reintegrated into society. The roll-out of Community Service Orders represents a significant step forward in the criminal justice system to address the issue of non-serious offenders.”

Lewis Chigunwe, Control Prosecutor for ||Kharas pointed out a challenge experienced with the CSO programme.

“When you are dealing with minors coming from influential families, they tend to want to negotiate on the number of hours that their child can perform, and many times I have also seen some parents come and say, ‘Look, as much as the preposition is for community service, I think I would rather pay the fine and be done with it’, which is as much might be okay on face value, but that is denying the child the opportunity to learn from their mistake.