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Correctional Services Minister Dr Pieter Groenewald Plans to Deport 26,000 Foreign Prisoners as South Africa Spends Over R11 Million Daily at R463 Per Inmate
South Africa’s Correctional Services Minister Dr Pieter Groenewald has announced plans to send thousands of foreign nationals back to their countries of origin. The move aims to ease severe prison overcrowding and slash daily costs borne by taxpayers. He confirmed the department is actively working on the necessary steps despite existing hurdles.
The minister revealed that about 26,000 foreigners are currently held in South African prisons, including both sentenced prisoners and those awaiting trial. “We have about 26,000 foreigners,” Groenewald stated in a recent interview. Each inmate costs the state R463 per day for food, security, healthcare and accommodation.
This adds up to just over R11 million rand per day for foreign prisoners alone. Groenewald emphasised the heavy financial strain on ordinary South Africans. He hopes to see good progress by this time next year, targeting significant reductions in the foreign inmate population.
Legal constraints currently prevent swift action, including the need to amend the Correctional Services Act. Groenewald acknowledged these barriers but confirmed his department is already in the process of addressing them through legislative changes and diplomatic engagement with countries of origin.
The initiative forms part of a broader effort to manage prison capacity and prioritise resources for South African offenders. By repatriating foreign nationals where possible, the minister believes the system can become more sustainable and cost-effective in the long term.
Groenewald’s straightforward message shows a clear priority: prisons exist for justice, not as a drain on public funds. If successful, the plan could free up millions annually while helping relieve pressure on South Africa’s overcrowded correctional facilities.
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