Overcrowding and delays in maintenance, were some of the concerns raised at Pollsmoor Correctional Centre. The Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services conducted an oversight visit to the Pollsmoor Correctional Centre in Tokai on 22 April 2025
According to the Committee Chairperson, Kgomotso Anthea
Ramolobeng, the remand detainees facility is 234% overcrowded, Medium A-
section 146%, Medium B-Section 149%, Medium C-Section 61% and the female section
is 248% overcrowded.
In its walkabout programme, the committee visited the
centre’s clinic, baby-mother-housing unit, the section for juvenile remand
detainees, female section, male section as well as the workshops for woodwork,
steelwork, and textiles. Ramolobeng said it was worthwhile to see what was
theoretically presented to the committee in its practical version on the
ground.
After its walkabout around the facility the committee
received a briefing from the DCS on, among other things, structure and
functions, challenges and successes, inmate population, management of
overcrowding, healthcare services, and self-sufficiency.
PC on Correctional Services on oversight visit at Pollsmoor Correctional Centre in Tokai, Western Cape @ParliamentofRSA @GovernanceClus1 @DCS_ZA @HealthSocClust @FinanceCluster @EconoCluster @DefenceCluster pic.twitter.com/hnTkQArwsh
— Justice-and-security-Cluster (@JustSecuCluster) April 22, 2025
At the remand detainee facility for juveniles, Ramolobeng,
encouraged the young detainees to change as life inside correctional centres is
obviously uncomfortable and inconvenient.
“When you are arrested you jettison your home
comfortability and some rights and endure a direct opposite of that behind the
prison doors. You may enjoy your limited human rights, but in an unfavourable
correctional centre environment’’
Regarding the lack of maintenance of infrastructure at the
centre, the committee has seen some dilapidated parts of the facility, damaged
water infrastructure at certain areas, kitchen equipment not working and the
bed space at the remand detainees that need urgent attention.
Ramlobeng said the committee will regularly conduct
physical oversight visits and then follow up on the commitments made by
officials to address the challenges that were highlighted. She said the
committee has resolved to have a joint meeting with the Portfolio Committee on
Public Works and Infrastructure to address the problem of maintenance at
facilities as the challenge of maintenance is common at all the facilities that
the committee has visited.
Done by: Mitchum George
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