Prisons’ occupancy level stands at 116.7%, says Lamola

JUSTICE and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola says the country’s prison population stood at 140 702 as of February 22.

Lamola said 92 165 were sentenced prisoners and 48 537 were remand detainees and other non-sentenced prisoners.

He said the prisons had the capacity to accommodate 120 567 prisoners, which meant they currently had an occupancy level of 116.7%.

Lamola was responding to questions from EFF MP Yoliswa Yako.

Last October, Lamola said there were 138 859 prisoners, resulting in an overpopulation level of 15.17%. At the time, it was down from 163 422 prisoners and an overcrowding level of 37.83% recorded in October 2019.

In his written response, Lamola said the 2020 special parole dispensation for low-risk offenders granted by President Cyril Ramaphosa had been positive in terms of managing overcrowding.

A total of 19 000 prisoners were released as part of the Covid-19 parole dispensation.

Lamola said the Covid-19 pandemic has had an impact on overcrowding.

“The country’s response to the pandemic has affected a wide range of services, including the functioning of the criminal justice system, which has led to increase in case backlogs and prolonged the period spent in detention by remand detainees.”

Lamola said the justice and crime prevention cluster would this year embark on a review of the Criminal Procedure Act and the Correctional Services Act in order to support non-custodial sentencing.