South Africa’s prison system is holding 27,880 foreign nationals, according to figures from the Department of Correctional Services.
The numbers were highlighted by Parliament’s Correctional Services Portfolio Committee Chairperson, Kgomotso Ramolobeng, who said the situation remains a concern.
According to the department’s figures, 14,614 foreign nationals are awaiting trial while 13,266 are sentenced offenders.
That means more than half of the foreign nationals in correctional facilities have not yet been sentenced.
Parliament Wants Faster Reforms
Ramolobeng said speeding up legislative reforms could help reduce pressure on South Africa’s prison system.
She also said stronger bilateral agreements with other countries could make it easier to repatriate foreign inmates to their countries of origin.
The focus is on sentenced offenders who could potentially serve the rest of their sentences in their home countries.
Ramolobeng said if this approach was expanded across SADC countries, it could produce positive results by allowing sentenced offenders to be transferred back home to finish their jail terms.
Current Law Still Limits Transfers
However, Ramolobeng said South Africa is still waiting for an amendment to a Bill that affects how foreign inmates are handled.
She said the current position requires a person incarcerated in South African facilities to remain in the country until they complete their sentence.
This limits the state’s ability to transfer offenders to their countries of origin, even where such a move could reduce pressure on local correctional centres.
Botswana Agreement Already Signed
Ramolobeng also pointed to a recent prisoner transfer agreement signed between South Africa and Botswana.
According to her, the agreement provides a framework for the repatriation of sentenced offenders so they can serve their sentences in their home country.
The issue now sits at the centre of a broader debate about overcrowding, justice delays and the cost of keeping foreign nationals in South African prisons.
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