SA spends R76.4m on interpreting services for foreign nationals

THE Department of Justice and Constitutional Development spent R76.4 million on foreign-language interpreting services in criminal court proceedings across South Africa during the 2024/25 financial year.

- MAYIBONGWE MAQHINA

The expenditure comes as courts recorded nearly 40 000 new criminal cases involving foreign nationals during the same period.

Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi disclosed the figures this week in response to parliamentary questions from the African Transformation Movement (ATM).

Responding to ATM MP Vuyo Zungula, Kubayi said the department's Electronic Case Management System showed that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) recorded 1 074 new cases involving foreign nationals in regional courts and 37 967 in district courts. “The NPA does not keep electronic record of the number of foreign nationals that were granted bail and subsequently failed to appear in court,” she said.

Kubayi clarified that the nationality of the accused was indicated on the database but, the identification of the nationality was not necessarily an indication they were in the country legally or illegally.

Kubayi further said the database did not record whether the foreign nationals were granted bail and subsequently failed to appear in court.

“The NPA is therefore unable to provide the requested information.”

Kubayi also said the department spent R76 178 462 on interpreting services for non-official languages in criminal proceedings from April 2024 until March 2025.