Plan to repatriate 27 000 foreign national prisoners

CORRECTIONAL Services Minister Pieter Groenewald has confirmed that his department is working towards the repatriation of approximately 27000 foreign nationals currently incarcerated in South African prisons.

- HOPE NTANZI

Groenewald emphasised that overcrowding in remand detention facilities is a critical issue, with some prisons operating at over 200% capacity.

Foreign nationals contribute significantly to the strain on the system, and efforts are underway to repatriate them to their countries of origin.

Groenewald was responding to questions from MPs during a sitting of the Peace and Security Cluster on Tuesday, where he addressed issues surrounding overcrowding.

The minister detailed efforts to reduce overcrowding, including the use of Section 63A of the Criminal Procedure Act, which allows the release or amendment of bail conditions for certain accused persons as a relief mechanism.