Unnatural inmate deaths rise in correctional facilities despite mental health care initiatives
Over 200 inmates died under correctional services' supervision in the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year, with unnatural deaths increasing from 24 to 44 between April and June. Of these, four were suicides, one was attributed to a prison official, and 39 remain under investigation. The Department of Correctional Services DCS faced 236 complaints during this period, with the portfolio committee emphasizing the constitutional imperatives of safe incarceration, human dignity, and effective rehabilitation. Committee chairperson Kgomotso Ramolobeng highlighted the need for rigorous accountability regarding parole board vacancies, budget overruns, facility security, and interventions to prevent further loss of life. Discrepancies in death figures between DCS and the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services JICS were attributed to different reporting stages. Despite these concerns, DCS met its targets for mental health treatment, with over 90,000 inmates receiving psychological, spiritual, or social work services. The department also faces a projected R749 million over-expenditure, attributed to increased incarceration, rehabilitation, social reintegration, and care costs, prompting calls for a financial recovery plan.