The Committee on Correctional Services has called on all stakeholders in the criminal justice system to work together to eliminate overcrowding in the country’s prisons.
This follows the Committee’s visit to the East London, Mdantsane (Eastern Cape) and Qalakabusha (KwaZulu-Natal) correctional centres to assess conditions of incarceration. The Committee established that some correctional centres, like Qalakabusha, have a 128% overcrowding rate.
Committee Chairperson, Mr Vincent Smith, reiterated the Committee’s position on overcrowding, saying it could not be resolved by the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) alone, but that other role-players such as the South African Police Service, the Judicial Inspectorate and the justice system have a crucial role to play as far as alleviating the pressure on Correctional Services.
To this end, the Committee will recommend the investigation of alternative and non-custodial sentencing. After speaking to inmates at both maximum and medium sections of the centres, the Committee received numerous allegations of inmates being assaulted by correctional officers.
The number of reports of alleged official brutality disturbed the MPs. The Committee would like to place on record that there can never be any justification for officers to assault inmates, or vice versa. The Committee will approach the department regarding these allegations and get their response.
While the Committee is pleased with the infrastructure at the Qalakabusha centre; the same cannot be said of the East London and Mdantsane correctional centres which the Committee found to be dilapidated and in need of maintenance. The Committee will ask the Department of Public Works to work together with DCS to address the severe maintenance challenges across the Eastern Cape.
The Committee is concerned about the lack of rehabilitation programmes at both centres and has suggested that the management at these centres prioritise the implementation of skills development and education programmes for all the inmates. Next week, the Committee continues its oversight by inspecting incarceration conditions in the Free State and the North West.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact:
Kanyisa Ndyondya, Parliamentary Communication Services
Cell: 083 624 0585
E-mail: kndyondya@parliament.gov.za.
