Broadcast DetailsShow: Special Assignment VIIIEpisode Title: Jail Birds
Date: Tuesday, 30 May, 2006
Time: 21h30
Channel: SABC 3
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The fact that South Africa’s crime statistics – especially violent crimes - are among the highest in the world is well known. What is mentioned less often is the gender of our criminals.
Nowadays, more and more women are being found guilty of violent crimes. This week Special Assignment meets some of these female killers and robbers in Pollsmoor Prison, Cape Town.
In 1995, there were about a thousand females in South African prisons. Ten years later over three thousand women are behind bars - the population in women’s lock-ups has increased by 68%. These are not petty criminals.
Research shows that at least 38% of female inmates are serving long sentences for murder or attempted murder. Only 18% and 16% are behind bars for robbery and theft respectively. Women have also entered the male-dominated arena of car hijackings.
We talk to Natachia Botha, now 21, who has been in prison since she was 13 for murder and robbery. She tells us that she is a “very violent person” who is pretty but with the potential for being “bitchy at times”.
Natalie Venter (30), like many respectable cocaine-sniffing people, thought she had found an easy and hassle-free way of supplementing her salary when she smuggled drugs. But she landed up in prison. She now serves the “Lord Jesus” and a 12 year sentence. Natalie will be lucky to be out by 2010.
Dora Bell (47) went to prison when her children were 12 and 14. Today she has a granddaughter of 12 who she has only ever met behind steel bars. Sentenced to 45 years for murder, and having served 15 years in jail, Dora is a bitter and angry woman.
South Africans have had enough of crime. But is the answer to lock up these women and throw the key away? Many experts don’t think that is the way to a safer South Africa.
Jail Birds is directed by Thuli Nhlapo and was filmed by Shamiel Albertyn