South Africa spends more than R11 million every day incarcerating foreign nationals, according to Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald. He revealed the figure during a briefing to Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services this week.
South Africa is spending approximately R11.7 million a day to house foreign nationals in its correctional facilities, with thousands of offenders being repatriated to their home countries upon release.
This was revealed by Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald this week during a briefing to a parliamentary committee, where he disclosed that about 26,000 foreign nationals are currently incarcerated in South African prisons.
Groenewald said the Department of Correctional Services continues to work with foreign governments to facilitate the repatriation of offenders once they are released on parole or complete their sentences. However, he acknowledged that some of those deported eventually find their way back into the country.
"The campaign to repatriate immigrants is ongoing because it costs us R11.7 million per day to keep them in our facilities. Once they are released, we return them to their countries through agreements and partnerships we have with other nations. I know some of them return," he said.
