I hope that Ananias Mathe will be sent to the Kokstad C-Max prison, the most secure facility in the country, following his sentencing yesterday to 54 years in jail (see here). Whilst we respect the decision of the court, we must do everything in our power to ensure that this dangerous, violent criminal, who is a serious danger to society and a serial escape artist, be kept as far away from society as possible, for the remainder of his life.

At present, he will only be eligible for parole after having served 43 years of his sentence, however it is possible that the conditions under which parole is granted could change. The DA strongly believes that perpetrators must serve sentences appropriate for the crimes they have committed and the harm they have done to innocent people. The DA believes that "life means life" and that there should be no parole for life sentences.

Mathe should never be in a position to be released from prison.

Statement issued by James Selfe, MP, Democratic Alliance shadow minister of correctional services, December 9 2009

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