3 500 offenders sentenced to community service

Namibian Correctional Service commissioner general Raphael Hamunyela says since the introduction of community service orders in 2010, 3 500 offenders have been sentenced to community service.

Hamunyela says of this total, 3 172 offenders have completed their community service orders, indicating the programme’s success in holding those who violate release conditions accountable.

Over the last three years, says Hamunyela, 80 offenders disobeyed their community service orders, leading to the re-arrest of 58 for non-compliance, and 62 offenders are currently serving community service sentences.

He made the remarks at Lüderitz, in the //Kharas region, on Monday during the Namibian Correctional Service’s launch of its community service orders programme at the Lüderitz Magistrate’s Court and Aus Periodical Court.

“While the arrest rate will surely improve, this statistic highlights the programme’s success in ensuring that those not complying with their release conditions are brought to book.

This is just our assurance to our bosses to say to them, ‘Yes, please send them; if they breach, we will still apprehend them and will bring them to our facility to serve their sentence’,” said Hamunyela.

Officially launching the expansion of the community service programme to Lüderitz and Aus, deputy minister of home affairs, immigration, safety and security Lucia Witbooi said the programme has been rolled out to 58 of the 71 targeted courts nationwide.

Witbooi said the ministry is committed to covering the remaining 13 courts by the end of the 2027/2028 financial year.

“I am proud to share that the issuing of community service orders has since become operational in all 14 of our political regions.

Those eligible for the programme are first-time offenders, repeat offenders with minor offences, individuals with a fixed residence, young offenders, and those convicted of non-serious crimes such as shoplifting, crimen injuria, common assault, and contempt of court.

“I would like to urge all stakeholders to ensure offenders carrying out community service sentences as an alternative to incarceration are made to feel welcome,” said Witbooi.

A community service order is a court directive requiring an offender to perform unpaid work for the benefit of the community as an alternative to incarceration.

Keetmanshoop magistrate Stanley Tembwe says prosecutors usually suggest community service as an option for petty crimes; however, offenders also request it.

Tembwe explains how offenders are selected to serve community service.

“From the court’s perspective, community service usually sometimes starts at the prompting of the prosecutor to submit a request to the court to consider community service.

At times, it is also prompted by the accused person himself, whereby they request community service to be considered.

But that having been done, the court can also consider the imposition of community service,” says Tembwe.