Mapaballo Borotho
- Unnatural deaths in South African prisons are rising, prompting calls for faster investigations, especially where officials are implicated.
- Thirty such deaths were recorded in the first three quarters of the 2025/26 financial year, with suicides and homicides among the leading causes.
- The Portfolio Committee has urged the DCS to act swiftly and strengthen oversight to prevent further incidents.
South Africa has seen an increase in unnatural deaths of prisoners in the country’s correctional facilities.
As a result, the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services has called on the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) to fast-track investigations into these unnatural deaths, particularly in cases where officials are implicated.
During the first three quarters of the 2025/26 financial year, 30 confirmed unnatural deaths were reported across various regions.
Of these, suicides accounted for 15 cases, making them the leading cause of these mysterious deaths in correctional facilities during this period.
According to the DCS, contributing factors include inadequate supervision in units in contravention of standard operating procedures, increasing overcrowding, staff shortages, delays in addressing inmates’ complaints and requests, and mental health challenges among offenders.
Committee Chairperson Kgomotso Anthea Ramolobeng said that during the same period, nine homicides were reported.
“In five cases, post-mortem reports are still outstanding.
In a progress report presented by the DCS, the committee was informed that between the 2022–2025 financial years, 88 officials were charged in the unnatural deaths of offenders. Of these cases, 49 have been finalised, while 39 remain pending. Consequence management in finalised cases resulted in 20 acquittals, 10 suspensions without pay and nine dismissals,” said Ramolobeng.
She further urged the DCS to ensure that investigating teams are immediately deployed to facilities when serious incidents occur.
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