Question NW3578 to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services

Reply:

The total number of cell phones that were confiscated from 01 April 2023 to 31 October 2023 is as follows:

Regions	Total Number of Cell phones confiscated as reported by Regions
KwaZulu-Natal	4 433
Eastern Cape	3 228
Western Cape	2 780
Free State & Northern Cape	1 972
Limpopo, Mpumalanga & North West	3 139
Gauteng	5 381
National Total	20 933

The following measures have been in place to ensure that access to cell phones does not re-occur:

• Conducting intensive searching (including surprise searches) is done on daily basis at Correctional Facilities and access control points. Searching is conducted on all vehicles, personnel, visitors and service providers. It is conducted as per Section 27 of CSA 111 of 1998 and Security Operating Procedures (SOPs). Searching of Officials, Stakeholders and Inmates when entering and leaving the Centres with hand held metal detectors and walk through metal detectors;
• The DCS has implemented Policies on of “Bagless Society” and “Cell phone free Society”. These policies reflect that officials are not permitted to enter facilities with bags or packets other than their personal items and meals. Females to utilise clear plastic bags;
• Regions have embarked on security awareness sessions on the prevention of smuggling of contrabands;
• Guidelines are in place on how confiscated cell phones must be disposed of to prevent re-circulation;
• Trained sniffer dogs are utilised for cell phone detection;
• Disciplinary measures and swift consequence management are applied to all officials, visitors, service providers and inmates involved in any form of smuggling of contraband including amongst others, cellular devices;
• Ensuring night and day patrol is intensified in the correctional Centres; &
• Ensuring that all posts including tower posts are manned and ESTs are placed at strategic posts.

Total number of Correctional Officials that were found to have been involved in such cases is as follows:

Region	Number of officials were caught smuggling cell phones as reported by Regions	Total number of unauthorised cell phone cases reported to SAPS
KwaZulu-Natal	01	0
Eastern Cape	0	0
Western Cape	02	02
Free State Northern Cape	0	0
Limpopo Mpumalanga North West	0	0
Gauteng	02	02
National Total	05	04

Actions that have been taken against the specified Correctional Officials are as follows:

Region	Disciplinary steps taken
KwaZulu-Natal	One (01) official dismissed
Western Cape	Two (02) officials - Investigation in progress
Gauteng	One (01) official resigned pending the disciplinary hearing. Disciplinary hearing of one (01) official still pending.

END.