The Department of Correctional Services in South Africa is considering a plan to use taxpayer funds to cover bail for minor offenders in an effort to ease overcrowding in prisons.
A proposal, spearheaded by retired Justice Edwin Cameron and the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS), aims to help detainees facing bail amounts of up to R1,000 who cannot afford to pay.
This initiative seeks to alleviate the strain on overcrowded prisons, particularly those like Westville Medium B, which currently houses approximately 4,000 inmates, despite being designed for just 1,500.
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According to Cameron, over 2,600 detainees are unable to pay bail of R1,000 or less, with many others struggling to afford slightly higher amounts.
He condemned the current prison conditions as “deplorable” and a serious infringement on human dignity.
The proposal, still under consideration as of March 26, 2025, would allow low-risk offenders, such as those charged with minor theft or assault, to be released while awaiting trial, thus helping to reduce overcrowding.
However, some critics have expressed concerns that this could lead to an increase in minor offences or strain public resources further.
