Prisoners 'sleeping in shifts'
Rajaa Azzakani


Johannesburg - Some prisons in South Africa are so overcrowded that prisoners are forced to either sleep in toilet blocks or in shifts.

Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour said in a written answer to parliament on Monday that 206 of the 238 correctional centres in the country were more than 100% full.

According to him, some prisoners at Potchefstroom Prison were forced to sleep in toilet blocks, as the communal cells were so overcrowded.

Nine male prisoners held at Matatshe Prison in Thohoyandou, Limpopo, were also subjected to inhumane conditions. They were forced to sleep in shifts, as there was not enough room for them.

Balfour admitted that prisons were so overcrowded that there were not enough beds for the inmates.

"Although there are not always enough beds to accommodate prisoners at certain centres, there are enough blankets for them to sleep on. All possible space is used for prisoners to sleep."

He said Matatshe was 16% above capacity, but that there were plans to rectify the situation as soon as possible. These include:


plans to transfer 500 prisoners from Matatshe to facilities in Witbank;

applications to convert prison sentences to correctional supervision are being speeded up;

efforts will be made to ensure that prisoners who qualify for parole are freed on time; and

criminals who are fined will be encouraged to pay up rather than be imprisoned.
Edited by Iaine Harper