24 Apr 2013

Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi says a total number of applications for Presidential pardon received during April 2000 to March 2013 is 1 303.

Answering a question in Parliament, Mr Masisi said of these, 202 were granted, 134 were denied for various reasons including time lapse, gravity of offence(s)  and whether or not the applicant was a repeat offender.

Others, he said were transferred to the Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM) in accordance with the Public Service Act of 2008 and a few were withdrawn while the majority are pending, awaiting additional information from either the applicants themselves or other stakeholders.

He said some of the people who apply are those who did not serve custodial but were finger printed upon conviction and the criminal record is hindering their employment chances.

Lobatse MP Nehemiah Modubule had asked how many ex-convicts the President pardoned from April 2000 to March 2013. He also asked how many applications were rejected and for what reasons. ENDS