Minimum sentences are a critical point of debate in the South African criminal law system; importantly so because the reality is that our prisons are overcrowded and unfortunately, despite all our legislations and institutions of law enforcement, we continue to have exorbitantly high crime rates in the country. We chat to Pheneas Mokoena, legal practitioner from Legal Aid about his knowledge on this aspect of the criminal justice system; as well Wits academic, Professor Stephen Tuson, who challenges the notion and practice of minimum sentences as an effective way of combatting crime. wits.journalism.co.za