South Africa
Seen in the press
Read our selection of press reports about this country.
South Africa: EFF calls for urgent intervention to fix prison system
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) member of Parliament (MP), Betty Diale, has called for urgent action to fix broken correctional services. According to Diale, the correctional services system is exposed to overcrowding, collapsing infrastructure, rampant gangsterism and contraband smuggling.South Africa: prison overcrowding crisis raises alarm with 57,000 people in remand custody
The Department of Correctional Services has revealed that it has a staggering population of 57,000 people in remand custody while prisons are bursting at the seams with an overcrowding of 163,000 incarcerated people.South Africa: incarcerated people bake bread to cut food costs
Prison bakeries in South Africa are helping the correctional services department (DCS) cut costs, promote self-sufficiency and sustainability and help incarcerated people gain practical experience while they receive a daily gratuity ranging from R2 to R9.South Africa: seven officials from Mangaung prison suspended after murder of incarcerated person
Seven prison officials at the Mangaung Correctional Centre have been suspended following the murder of an imprisoned person. Mpho Mkhumbeni died on 12 March, following an unauthorised raid of his cell where he was pepper-sprayed and beaten the night before.South Africa: nutrition experts revamp meal plans for imprisoned people
The Department of Correctional Services has roped in nutrition experts to ensure that imprisoned people are fed a well-balanced meal.“These changes were carefully designed to align with dietary guidelines and ensure that the diverse dietary needs of the detained population are adequately met.”.South Africa: 44 incarcerated people in isolation due to diphtheria outbreak at Pollsmoor prison
The correctional services department said seven cases were confirmed and contact tracing and screening of incarcerated people and staff was implemented to prevent the spread of the life-threatening infection.South Africa: 66 million euros needed to refurbish Sun City Prison, correctional services says
The department of correctional services (DCS) says 66 million euros is required to refurbish the Johannesburg Sun City Prison. The renovation project will address critical issues, including plumbing, electrical systems, and overcrowding, and will be phased across various sections of the prison.South Africa: faeces, fly-infested cells, lack of beds inside Pollsmoor rankles minister
The is the harsh reality what wardens and staff told the delegation they were faced with on a daily basis, often having to man over 200 remand imprisoned people awaiting trial. There are no windows or electrical sockets, beds or mattress or lights in cells they were housed in.
South Africa: JICS finds evidence of racial discrimination, human rights abuses against “Phoenix accused”
The Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS) and the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) are at loggerheads over findings of an investigation into allegations of abuse of inmates of Indian descent jailed in Phoenix during the July 2021 unrest.
South Africa: inmates complain about the excessive use of force by prison officials
The Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS) said it has been approached by inmates, officials, and associations representing inmates, to address the alleged excessive use of force by correctional officials on inmates.