South Africa

Laws, programmes, and pilots changing how South Africa incarcerates — plus relevant research.

• Child Justice Act diversion2010–ongoing

  juvenile · active

  South Africa's Child Justice Act 2008 (in force 2010) created a comprehensive diversion framework for children in conflict with the law, prioritising restorative justice processes, family group conferences, and community service over detention.

567 facilities in our database — showing the first 24.

Recent reports

• Pretoria Central Correctional Centre22 Oct 2025

  PMG DCS committee meeting (2025-10-22): AGSA audit findings mentioned in relation to Pretoria Central Correctional Centre. Snippet: es rated unsatisfactory included Pollsmoor Female; Mount Fletcher; Brandvlei Medium; Pollsmoor RDF; Kgosi Mampuru II Local and Rooigrond Medium A. The most common reasons highlighted by JICS why facilities were rated unsatisfactory included, extreme overcrowding;

  PMG-AGSA · source

• St. Albans Max. Correctional Centre21 Oct 2025

  PMG DCS committee meeting (2025-10-21): AGSA audit findings mentioned in relation to St. Albans Max. Correctional Centre. Snippet: erns about existing facilities operating below capacity. Referring to his recent oversight visit to St. Albans Correctional Centre, he noted that the bakery there was functioning at only 25% because two of its three ovens were not working. This had forced the

  PMG-AGSA · source

• Pretoria Central Correctional Centre17 Oct 2025

  PMG DCS committee meeting (2025-10-17): AGSA audit findings mentioned in relation to Pretoria Central Correctional Centre. Snippet: ified two key reasons: JICS had been involved in extensive litigation, particularly from inmates in CMAX, who had challenged solitary confinement. JICS was frequently cited in these matters, requiring instruction of the State Attorney and the briefing of

  PMG-AGSA · source

• Baviaanspoort Maximum Correctional Centre1 Jul 2025

  PMG DCS committee meeting (2025-07-01): AGSA audit findings mentioned in relation to Baviaanspoort Correctional Centre. Snippet: 2025/26 reflected only the first two months (April and May 2025). The main contributor to this was Baviaanspoort Correctional Centre, which was undergoing renovations and could not produce bread internally. Similarly, the large volume of externally procured brea

  PMG-AGSA · source

• Pollsmoor Maximum Security Prison20 Aug 2024

  PMG DCS committee meeting (2024-08-20): AGSA audit findings mentioned in relation to Pollsmoor Correctional Centre. Snippet: Minister Ntshalintshali told a positive story about two children who had been raised by a mother in Pollsmoor prison and went on to become a lawyer and a pilot. This story had been celebrated during the Women's Month celebrations. She credited the Department’

  PMG-AGSA · source

• Mangaung Correctional Centre (Apops)23 Jul 2024

  PMG DCS committee meeting (2024-07-23): AGSA audit findings mentioned in relation to Mangaung Correctional Centre. Snippet: es of the PPP facilities mentioned in the presentation as Kutama Sinthumule Correctional Centre and Mangaung Correctional Centre or MCC. It is widely known because of the Thabo Bester matter. The Chairperson gave clarity on the budget, saying that Correction

  PMG-AGSA · source

• Pollsmoor Maximum Security Prison10 Dec 2023

  Pollsmoor running at 184% of design capacity; remand population is the principal driver.

  Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services · source