Community service conditions revealed

The Omaheke Region will now join the rest of the country in punishing petty crime with community service.Namibia Correctional Service (NCS) Commissioner-General Raphael Hamunyela announced this last week in Gobabis during a community service order roll-out to that region. The crimes that will be punishable with community service include shoplifting, theft, contempt of court, common assault, crimen injuria, trespassing and assault by threat.However, first-time offenders, repeat offenders with minor offences, offenders with a fixed address, breadwinners with dependents and young offenders will be the only criminals eligible for community service."The uptake of community service orders as a sentencing option has the potential to reduce the number of inmates within our correctional facilities, thereby saving the state much-needed resources as it contains the costs associated with custodial care - such as food, utilities, medication and other related expenses. “This will allow the deviation of limited resources to other critical needs," Hamunyela said.Success He highlighted that since the full implementation of the orders in 2010, 2 967 offenders have been sentenced to community service. Of these, 2 641 completed their community service by 31 August, representing 89%."Only 274 offenders breached their sentencing conditions,” Hamunyela said, adding that approximately 95% of these offenders breached the conditions by reoffending.Meanwhile, 52 offenders were still fulfilling their community service by 31 August. “The successes achieved with the implementation of the programme through proper supervision mechanisms to ensure compliance to sentencing conditions, thus far, instills confidence in the efficacy of community service orders as a sentencing option in Namibia," he added.Type of workAccording to head of community service orders, Deputy Commissioner Natacha Booysen, the process of sentencing an individual to community service will include investigations after arrest and reintegrating them into an identified community for service to commence."The type of work includes cleaning and maintenance work in public schools, clinics, hospitals, parks, police stations, magistrates&#039; courts; rendering special services for destitute members of the community, for example old-age homes, orphanages, hospitals, and rendering of specialist or professional services to the community for the benefit of the community, such as teaching and providing medical, welfare and counseling services,” she said.Furthermore, duties include sharing of skills and knowledge, which could mean coaching sports activities or providing training in a particular trade or art," Booysen added.All duties will be performed without remuneration, but to the benefit of the community, she emphasised.

Community service conditions revealed

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-05-21

Please login to leave a comment

Community service conditions revealed

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-05-21

Please login to leave a comment

Login