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Country SOUTH AFRICA
Ministry responsible Ministry of Correctional Services
Prison administration Department of Correctional Services
Contact address Private Bag X136, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
Telephone/fax/website tel: +27 12 307 2249 or 307 2274 or 307 2248
fax: +27 12 307 2000 or 325 4824 or 321 2460
Web: www.dcs.gov.za
Head of prison administration
(and title)
Tom Swabihi Moyane
National Commissioner
Prison population total
(including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
149,959
at 31.10.2012 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate
(per 100,000 of national population)
286
based on an estimated national population of 52.4 million at end of October 2012 (from Statistics South Africa figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners
(percentage of prison population)
28.2%
(30.4.2012)
Female prisoners
(percentage of prison population)
2.4%
(28.2.2011)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners
incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.4%
(31.3.2012 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners
(percentage of prison population)
5.3%
(August 2010)
Number of establishments /
institutions
243
(2013)
Official capacity of prison system 118,968
(30.4.2012)
Occupancy level (based on official
capacity)
131.7%
(30.4.2012)
Recent prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
1992 104,790 (285)
1995 118,205 (301)
1998 146,435 (349)
2001 170,959 (386)
2004 187,640 (403)
2007 161,639 (339)
2010 164,793 (331)

Please send new or updated information to admin@icps.essex.ac.uk