Question NW2376 to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
14 July 2022 - NW2376
Engelbrecht, Mr J to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
What number of (a) prisoners are currently incarcerated in our prison system as a result of drug related offences, (b) these incarcerations are a result of cannabis related offences and (c) the cannabis related offences involved amounts of less than 50 grams of cannabis?
Reply:
a) The table below provides details of the number of Prisoners currently incarcerated in our prisons system as a result of drug related offences:
|
Region |
Remand Detainees |
Sentenced |
Total |
|
Eastern Cape |
132 |
207 |
339 |
|
Free State, Northern Cape |
25 |
95 |
120 |
|
Gauteng |
529 |
220 |
749 |
|
KwaZulu- Natal |
129 |
109 |
238 |
|
Limpopo,Mpumalanga, North –West |
62 |
187 |
249 |
|
Western Cape |
798 |
642 |
1440 |
|
National |
1675 |
1460 |
3135 |
b) The crime description captured on the Integrated Inmate Information Management System (IIMS) is “Dealing and/ possession of prohibited drugs)”
In the legacy Admissions and Release (A&R) system, the crime description is “( Marijuana- Possession of) (Marijuana- Use of), ( Marijuana- Crimes N.M.E), (Marijuana- Trade With), (Proh Habit form Med Use/ Possess)”. It can therefore not be ascertained if Marijuana (cannabis) is the only drug related offence to the exclusion of other drugs offences being captured on the system to make the distinct difference.
|
Region |
Remand Detainees |
Sentenced |
Total |
|
Eastern Cape |
132 |
179 |
311 |
|
Free State, Northern Cape |
25 |
94 |
119 |
|
Gauteng |
529 |
220 |
749 |
|
KwaZulu- Natal |
129 |
105 |
234 |
|
Limpopo,Mpumalanga, North –West |
62 |
186 |
248 |
|
Western Cape |
798 |
638 |
1436 |
|
National |
1675 |
1422 |
3097 |
(c) The information regarding possession of marijuana in quantities is not captured on the Admission and Release System.
END