Large numbers of awaiting-trial prisoners appear to be the reason for South Africa’s grossly overcrowded prisons, some by more than 300% of capacity.
According to Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour’s written reply to a recent parliamentary question, prison occupation in 173 prisons stood at 144,76% of capacity on average as at March 31 this year.
Total bed capacity was 114 559, but there were 113 178 sentenced prisoners and 52 662 awaiting-trial detainees — a total number of 165 840 inmates.
One of the worst prisons for offenders was Umtata Medium, with capacity for 580 inmates, but accommodating 902 sentenced and 1 229 awaiting-trial prisoners — a total of 2131 inmates, or 367,41% capacity.
Johannesburg Medium A had 2 630 beds, but had 6 529 awaiting-trial and 152 sentenced prisoners — altogether 6 681 inmates, or 254,03% capacity.
Durban Medium B, built for 1 853 inmates, had no awaiting-trial prisoners but still accommodated 4 679 sentenced prisoners — 252,51% capacity.
Cape Town’s Pollsmoor Maximum was designed to hold 1 872 inmates, but had 3 813 offenders awaiting trial and 718 sentenced prisoners — a total of 4 531, or 242,04% capacity.
The occupation rate was well over 140% in the majority of the 173 prisons listed.
In a written reply to further questions, Balfour said the average time an awaiting-trial prisoner spends inside is 170 days.
For the financial year 2007/08, the cost amounted to R168,68 per day per awaiting-trial prisoner.
Despite this overcrowding, only five murders occurred in prison cells between April 1 2007 and March 31 this year.
One of these was ”gang related”, one a prisoner murdered by a correctional services official, and three were offenders killed by another offender.
During the same time, a total number of 1 038 ”alleged assaults” occurred in correctional centres.
Balfour said the department’s management information system did not make provision for information specifically required regarding rape and/or indecent assaults that took place in prisons. — Sapa