Question NW3595 to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
03 January 2024 - NW3595
Engelbrecht, Mr J to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
Whether, considering that the rise in crime levels and the Government’s perceived inability to construct and maintain additional correctional centres have compounded the unacceptable levels of overcrowding in correctional facilities, he has found that his department’s special remission programme has achieved its aim of reducing the unacceptable levels of overcrowding in correctional facilities; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
Granting of Special Remission of sentence is the prerogative of the President in terms of the powers vested in him by Section 84 (2) (j) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act No 108 of 1996).
DCS continuously implements the direct and indirect measures outlined by the DCS Overcrowding Reduction Strategy in dealing with population levels in all correctional facilities. Special Remission is one of the short-term direct measures for dealing with overcrowding.
The implementation of the 2023 Special Remission of sentence by the Department of Correctional Service (DCS) has achieved its aim of reducing levels of overcrowding in correctional facilities.
As on 11 August 2023, which is the inception date of the 2023 Special Remission of sentence, the inmate population stood at 154 327 against 107 582 bed spaces resulting in an excess of 46 745 which constitute 143% occupancy level and an overcrowding level of 43%.
As on 30 October 2023, a total of 16 247 (13 958 unconditional and 2 289 conditional) offenders were released after benefitting from Special Remission of Sentence.
As on 30 October 2023, the inmate population stood at 149 619. The inmate population decreased from 154 327 to 149 619 which translates into a decrease of 4708.
The reasons that the inmate population reflects only a decrease of 4 708 on 30 October 2023 and not 16 247 released are the following;
- Releases are competing with daily admissions on both remands and sentenced categories. Bedspace gained due to the 2023 Special Remission of sentence is immediately occupied by new admissions.
- The decrease in the approved and available bedspace from 107 582 of 104 558 (a decrease of 3 024 bedspaces from 107 582 due to the temporary closure of Kutama Sinthumule Correctional Centre) has further strained the available bedspaces.
END.