South Africa released more than 3,000 prisoners on Monday saying they had been rehabilitated, but denied suggestions that officials were trying to ease prison crowding. The 3,000 were among 7,214 young, elderly, women and disabled prisoners to be freed by this week. More releases will be staggered over the next 10 weeks, according to a report of Reuters. All sentenced offenders -- aside from those convicted of sexual, aggressive, drug, alcohol or firearm related crimes -- will have their sentence reduced by a maximum of six months.
