Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) member of Parliament (MP), Betty Diale, has called for urgent action to fix broken correctional services.
Diale was addressing MPs in the National Assembly on Thursday, following oversight visits to KwaZulu-Natal and Pollsmoor Correctional Facility in the Western Cape.
According to Diale, the correctional services system is exposed to overcrowding, collapsing infrastructure, rampant gangsterism and contraband smuggling. She revealed that Pollsmoor is sitting at 243% overcrowding rate.
“Inmates in most centers are housed in terrible overcrowded cells and under inhuman conditions, including filthy linen and insufficient beds, causing some of the inmates to sleep on the floor,” Diale stated.
The EFF MP suggested unannounced oversight visits and urgent structural repairs to restore dignity and constitutional compliance in the correctional system.
Impact of overcrowding in correctional facilities
Diale said overcrowding in correctional facilities contributes to gangsterism and easy smuggling of drugs and other contrabands. She added that young prisoners are often detained alongside hardened criminals, which leads to gang culture entanglement.
“Smuggling contraband is the department’s worst nightmare. It appears to be no clear strategy to curb such,” she added.
Diale further revealed that over 11 000 cellphones were confiscated from cells in less than 12 months. She cited that lack of accountability is a clear indication that the department is failing to manage correctional centres.
Contrary to this, the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services had previously expressed concern over the low success rate of the current legislation aimed at reducing overcrowding in the country’s correctional facilities.
Department of Correctional Services interventions
On 16 July 2025, Correctional Services National Commissioner, Makgothi Thobakgale, led a multidisciplinary search operation at the Pollsmoor Prison. The operation resulted in seizure of illegal items, which exposed challenges posed by unlawful activities within correctional centres.
Furthermore, Thobakgale commended conducted operations, stating that they reinforce their resolve to run safe and rehabilitative correctional environments. He also ensured that his department would continue to strengthen its internal measures by deploying interventions in identified hotspots.
What do you think could be a possible solution the issue of overcrowding in correctional centres?
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