Government Spends Over R11 Million Daily on Foreigners in Country’s Prisons, Citizens Aren’t Pleased

• The South African government spends millions of rands a day on foreigners in the country's prisons
• Over 25,000 foreign nationals are currently incarcerated in the country's prisons, with many being detained
• South Africans weighed in on the number of foreigners in the country and stated who was to blame for the problem

Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.

GAUTENG – The South African government spends approximately R11 million a day on the upkeep of incarcerated foreigners.

That’s according to the Department of Correctional Services, which noted the number of foreign nationals currently in the country’s prisons and the cost of caring for them.

How many foreigners are in the country’s prisons?

According to Kgomotso Ramolobeng, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services, there are at least 25,585 foreign nationals in South African prisons as of 30 June 2025. At least 13,444 of those were sentenced, and 12,145 were detainees.

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She noted that many of the detainees were struggling to afford bail, even amounts as little as R300. The inmates are both documented and undocumented migrants.

How much do the inmates cost per day?

Singabakho Nxumalo, spokesperson for the Department of Correctional Services, confirmed that the State spends between R470 and R480 per day for each inmate.

“It includes expenses related to food, utilities such as water and electricity, hygiene products, and other essential services required to maintain basic living conditions within correctional facilities,” he said.

The Correctional Services minister previously called for prisoners to grow their own food by planting crops during incarceration to help manage food costs.

He also explained that even though many detainees could not afford bail, the department was not allowed to release any detainees unless a valid court order had been issued, their sentence had been served, or their bail had been settled.

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He noted that in cases where trials were delayed for more than two years, the department could raise concerns with the court; however, only the court could decide whether someone should be released or placed under correctional supervision.

Minister of Correctional Services, Pieter Groenewald, previously called for corporal punishment to be reinstated as he discussed ways to resolve the burden of undocumented foreign nationals in South African prisons.

How did South Africans react?

With many in the country already upset with the number of foreigners in the country, social media users blamed the African National Congress (ANC) for the situation.

Vumile Luzuko Solomon suggested:

“Let's start a petition so that Robben Island can be reopened and become our Blackdolphin Prison.”

Matome Mathekga stated:

“And on top of that, those outside the prison, but in the country illegally, demand free healthcare. When we speak, it’s xenophobia.”

Mokone Wa Bokone said:

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“SA is the Santa of the world. They can even claim RAF and medical negligence, even though they shouldn't have been in the country in the first place.”

William Makwe asked:

“That's stupid. Why not deport them? And why isn't some hard labour being introduced to the rehab program? That will serve as a payback practice.”

Sthembiso Motaung said:

“Courtesy of the ANC government.”

Jola Majolaz stated:

“MyANC is the worst thing to have ever happened in South Africa.”

Justice Justice stated:

“We shouldn't be wasting money on useless people. Make them eat pap and cabbage every day. Our government is nonsense. They waste our money.”

Correctional Services need billions to address overcrowding

Briefly News reported that Groenewald said that the government needs to spend billions to solve prison overcrowding.

The figure was revealed during a question-and-answer session in Parliament while discussing the problem in prisons.

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Groenewald said that 50,000 additional bed spaces were needed to accommodate SA's growing prison population.

Source: Briefly News