Overcrowding crisis: South Africa requires R36 billion for new prisons
Photograph: David Harrison
South Africa’s Minister of Correctional Services, Pieter Groenewald, has revealed that an estimated R36 billion is needed to construct new correctional facilities to address the ongoing issue of overcrowding in the nation’s prisons.
Responding to a Parliamentary question from Patriotic Alliance MP Marlon Vivienne Daniels, Groenewald underscored the urgent need to expand prison capacity.
Despite efforts to increase bed space, such as refurbishments and upgrades, overcrowding persists at an average rate of 46%.
“This requires the construction of 100 new Correctional Centres with a bed space capacity of 500 each, or alternatively 50 new Correctional Centres with a bed space of 1,000 each,” he said.
Between September 2023 and July 2024, bed space capacity increased by 2,788 beds, bringing the total to 107,346. However, Groenewald highlighted the necessity for an additional 50,000 beds, which would require constructing either 100 new correctional centers with a capacity of 500 beds each or 50 centers with 1,000 beds each.
Based on the 2022–2023 Property & Construction Africa Cost Guide, the estimated cost per bed varies by facility type. Medium-security centers range from R680,000 to R810,000 per bed, while high-security facilities cost between R1,080,000 and R1,400,000 per bed.
Currently, the department has registered 69 infrastructure projects, including capital and maintenance works, to alleviate overcrowding.
Two major projects are underway: a 500-bed correctional center in Burgersdorp, Eastern Cape, expected to be completed in 2026, and another in Parys, Free State, where progress resumed after a contractor replacement.
Despite these efforts, Groenewald acknowledged that the current fiscal constraints make the required R36 billion investment challenging.
