The chairperson of the portfolio committee on correctional services, Kgomotso Ramolobeng, has voiced concerns about overcrowding in South African prisons, with a significant proportion of inmates being foreign nationals.
Speaking at a recent parliamentary briefing, Ramolobeng disclosed that as of March last year, correctional facilities were holding 22,612 foreign nationals, including 690 serving life sentences.
During oversight visits to correctional centres in Gauteng in October, the committee observed that many facilities were predominantly occupied by foreign nationals, particularly for offences such as robbery and illegal immigration.
“When we went to the Baviaanspoort juvenile centre, we found about 525 male offenders in that facility. Out of the 525, 400 were foreign nationals and only 125 were South Africans,” Ramolobeng stated.
She added that the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Facility housed 2,394 foreign nationals, while the Johannesburg Correctional Facility (formerly known as Sun City) had 4,709 foreign inmates, describing the situation as a significant challenge for the department.
Currently, South Africa’s correctional facilities accommodate approximately 156,000 inmates, despite having a capacity of only 105,474 beds for the 2023/24 financial year.
Ramolobeng identified several factors contributing to overcrowding, including inmates unable to afford bail, those who should be in mental institutions, and the high number of foreign nationals in custody.
To address these issues, the department has implemented several strategies, including:
1. Managing awaiting trial levels: Efforts are being made to streamline the judicial process and reduce delays for those awaiting trial.
2. Community correction supervision: Increasing the use of alternative sentencing methods, such as community corrections, to reduce the number of incarcerated individuals.
3. Parole and facility transfers: Expanding the use of parole and transferring inmates between facilities to achieve a more even distribution and alleviate pressure in overcrowded centres.
4. Rehabilitation-focused sentencing: Encouraging public debate on the value of incarceration and promoting sentencing practices that emphasise rehabilitation over punitive measures.
Ramolobeng also noted that the department is collaborating with the Department of Home Affairs to deport foreign inmates who have been granted parole, returning them to their countries of origin.
