Breakthrough as overcrowding in Pollsmoor gets reduced
WESTERN Cape regional commissioner Delekile Klaas has attributed team work, diligence, dedication and commitment as positives that contributed to a dramatic reduction in overcrowding at Pollsmoor Remand Detention Facility (RDF) to just below 150% – a milestone achieved for the first time since 2005.
Announcing the latest achievement of a 148% reduction at Pollsmoor’s RDF yesterday, commissioner Klaas said the department’s efforts to reduce overcrowding at the facility continue to yield positive results and that the department would work around the clock to ensure the numbers remained just under 150% – in keeping with the ruling by the Cape High Court in December.
“As a department we would like to take this opportunity to express our deepest sense of appreciation and gratitude to all those who were involved in making sure our work at Pollsmoor RDF became such a resounding success.
“These colleagues include the office and staff of the area commissioner of Pollsmoor, especially those stationed at RDF, our colleagues from the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) cluster, Western Cape Regional Court President MBG Langa, and Western Cape judges and magistrates who diverted detainees to facilities other than Pollsmoor,” said Klaas.
He also thanked Parliament’s portfolio and select committees on Justice and Correctional Services for continuing to provide support and guidance in addressing challenges of overcrowding in a number of correctional facilities in the Western Cape.
Last month, the department briefed the portfolio committee about progress that was being made at Pollsmoor.
The Remand Detention facility, which was built in 1975 to accommodate 1619 offenders, had an occupancy rate of 251% (4066) at the time of the high court ruling in December.
As at Friday, May 26, the department had reduced the inmate population in the facility to 148%.
One of the main external factors that has contributed to Pollsmoor Remand having high levels of overcrowding over the years was the large number of courts that feed into it around the Cape Metro.
Inevitably, a number of services, such as Sentence Planning and the Offender Rehabilitation Programme inside the centre, became compromised.
Commissioner Klaas also especially dedicated this milestone achievement to Correctional Services Minister Michael Masutha, Deputy Minister Thabang Makwetla and national commissioner Zack Modise for providing decisive and strategic leadership in addressing the challenges of overcrowding at a number of correctional facilities around the Western Cape.
As part of the action plan, Pollsmoor, Goodwood and Malmesbury were earmarked to largely accommodate remand detainees. As a result, most sentenced offenders had to be transferred to other centres outside the Western Cape, to neighbouring regions such as Northern Cape, Limpopo and Free State.
“We are working around the clock and very closely with sister departments within the ambit of the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) cluster in order to ensure that we adhere to the ruling of the high court in December.
“Our work is also aimed at ensuring that we clamp down on resultant challenges of gangsterism and smuggling into our facilities,” commissioner Klaas said.