[imagesource:wkar]

Cape Town residents living in Kensington, Factreton, and Maitland will be given the opportunity to have their criminal records removed should they meet the expungement criteria.

These suburbs fall within the Ward 56 area.

Local councillor, Cheslyn Steenberg, says the expungement programme aims to make people employable, by dealing with their criminal history.

This will allow someone to carry on with their life without a criminal record obstructing them from employment and other opportunities.

“Where I come from second chances change lives. I invite any and all residents who have a criminal record; I will help you with the expungement application to have your record cleared subject to meeting the set criteria.”

Steenberg says there will be a presentation and applicants will be taken through the necessary steps. They will need to submit their fingerprints to the police, who will give them their record to be attached to the application form.

The process takes three months to complete once the complete application is received.

“No-one needs to be ashamed of their past.”

According to the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development’s website, one can apply to have a criminal record expunged when:

• A period of 10 years has passed after the date of the conviction for that offence.
• You have not been convicted and sentenced to a period of imprisonment without the option of a fine during those 10 years.
• The sentence was corporal punishment.
• The sentence was postponed or you were cautioned and discharged.
• The sentence was a fine not exceeding R20 000.
• The sentence was imprisonment with the option to pay a fine (not more than R20 000) instead of serving the period of imprisonment.
• The sentence of imprisonment was suspended wholly.
• The sentence was correctional supervision in terms of section 276(1)(h) of the Act.
• The sentence was imprisonment in terms of section 276(1)(i) of the Act.
• The sentence was periodical imprisonment in terms of section 276(1)(c) of the Act.
• Proof is provided that one’s name has been removed from the National Register of Sex Offenders or the National Child Protection Register, if relevant.

Steenberg said the programme will not be a once-off and they hope to continue giving people the option of clearing their records. Steenberg says she believes in second chances, “People are unemployed, and they remain unemployed because of stumbling blocks such as a criminal record.”

The project will take place at Windermere High School on Thursday 29 June.

[source:news24]