South Africa’s correctional system is at a crossroads, grappling with severe overcrowding, budget pressures, and controversial proposals to address both, Cape {town} Etc reports.
Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald has called for deporting foreign inmates, a move that could save taxpayers R11 million per day, while reigniting debate over corporal punishment as an alternative to imprisonment.
As TimesLIVE and African Insider reported, the proposals, revealed during a parliamentary budget vote, come as the country’s prisons operate at 46% over capacity, with 24 000 foreign nationals accounting for a significant portion of inmates. Meanwhile, the department faces scrutiny over rising costs, including paying R22.95 per loaf for prisoner bread, more than retail prices.
The R11 million daily burden: Push to deport foreign inmates
Groenewald disclosed that housing foreign prisoners costs South Africa R463 per inmate daily, totalling R11.112 million per day. With 12 676 sentenced foreigners (12.4% of the prison population) as of January 2025, the minister argued deportation would ease fiscal strain.
‘The South African taxpayer foots this bill,’ Groenewald said, adding that diplomatic solutions are being explored. ActionSA MP Dereleen James backed the call, noting the funds could instead buy 555 600 loaves of bread, which is enough to feed 277 800 households.
However, legal hurdles remain. The Immigration Act must align with deportation frameworks, and parolees complicate the process. The department’s chief deputy commissioner, Anna Molepo, acknowledged these challenges in earlier briefings.
Corporal punishment: A controversial fix for overcrowding
In a more contentious proposal, Groenewald suggested reintroducing corporal punishment, such as caning or flogging, for minor offences to reduce inmate numbers.
‘With 2,500 remand detainees unable to pay bail under R1,000, we are exploring various solutions,’ he said, sparking outcry from human rights groups. Supporters argue it could deter crime and free up 50 000 needed bed spaces, while critics condemn it as inhumane and unconstitutional.
The debate echoes past failed attempts to revive physical punishment, last legally used in South Africa in 1997.
Bread procurement scandal
MPs grilled the department over spending R22.95 per loaf for inmate bread, double the retail price, after external supplier costs surged.
-
Self-baking costs R7.91/loaf but falls short by 270 870 loaves annually.
-
Outsourcing added R27.4 million in expenses last year.
The department plans to expand its 12 bakeries to achieve self-sufficiency.
Broader implications: Balancing justice and costs
The proposals highlight systemic issues:
-
Budget waste (e.g., bread overpayments) is straining resources.
-
Overcrowding is fuelling calls for radical reforms.
-
Ethical dilemmas over punitive measures.
Groenewald’s plans face legal and public resistance. Yet, with prisons at breaking point, the status quo is unsustainable.
South Africa’s prison crisis reflects deeper struggles: fiscal constraints, migration pressures, and competing visions of justice. While deportation could offer immediate relief, corporal punishment risks backsliding on human rights. Meanwhile, mismanagement, like the bread scandal, underscores the need for transparency.
But with Parliament divided and citizens demanding accountability, the path forward remains fraught.
Also read:
Picture: Getty Images
