SA’s overcrowded prisons: MPs call for deportation of convicted foreign nationals

Political parties are once again calling for convicted foreign nationals to be deported to lessen overcrowding in the country’s prisons.

There are more than 26,000 foreign nationals incarcerated in correctional facilities, costing taxpayers around R11 million a day.

On Thursday, ActionSA, the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), Freedom Front (FF) Plus and the Democratic Alliance (DA) were among parties that called for urgent legislation to facilitate their deportation as the National Assembly debated the impact of overcrowding on inmates’ human rights.

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During the African National Congress (ANC)-sponsored debate, member of Parliament (MP) Mogodu Moela said the overcrowding in correctional centres is impeding rehabilitation efforts, the successful reintegration of convicted criminals back into society and, ultimately, human rights and dignity.

The country’s prisons currently house around 168,000 inmates, leading to an overcrowding rate of 57%.

ActionSA’s Dereleen James said it’s unacceptable that more than R5 billion a year is spent to house foreign nationals who have been convicted of crime in South Africa.

“One simple solution to end overcrowding is to deport every single one of these foreign criminals to their country of origin and make their governments pay the costs. South Africa is not a hotel for housing foreign criminals.”

The DA’s Damian Klopper agreed.

“We need an inmate exchange programme and an expedited deportation process for those with minor offences.”

The FF Plus’ Heloise Denner said former ANC governments had lacked the political will to deal with the problem.

The ACDP’s Steve Swart said if legislation is not drafted swiftly by the executive to address the issue of foreign inmates, Parliament’s Correctional Services Committee should take the initiative to do so.