A written parliamentary response from the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has provided a detailed snapshot of the state of juvenile incarceration in South Africa, highlighting both capacity shortfalls and gaps in infrastructure across correctional centres.

The reply, issued in response to questions posed by Rise Mzansi Member of Parliament, Makashule Gana, to the Minister of Correctional Services, confirms that there are currently 15 dedicated juvenile correctional centres operating in South Africa. These facilities, which cater to youth offenders aged 18 to 25, have a combined approved bed space of 4,262. However, as of 31 March 2025, they were accommodating 5,081 inmates, exceeding national capacity by over 19%.

The regional data reveal significant disparities in occupancy:

• Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West: 1,067 capacity vs. 1,442 inmates

• Western Cape: 1,009 capacity vs. 1,292 inmates

• Gauteng: 751 capacity vs. 831 inmates

• Eastern Cape: 416 capacity vs. 578 inmates

Some centres are operating well above capacity. For example, Mossel Bay Youth Correctional Centre in the Western Cape is housing 627 inmates in a facility built for 302. Similarly, Barberton Youth Correctional Centre in Mpumalanga accommodates 561 inmates, although its approved capacity is 357.

In contrast, a few centres remain below capacity. The Bizzah Makhate Youth Correctional Centre in the Free State holds 39 inmates against a capacity of 64.

The Department stated that not all correctional facilities have juvenile sections, citing the 2005 White Paper on Corrections, which identifies youth offenders as a special category requiring dedicated facilities. This policy aligns with international standards, including Rule 11(d) of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules), which requires the separation of juveniles from adult inmates.

Where facilities do not have a designated juvenile section, the Department noted that youth offenders are accommodated separately from adult offenders within the same facility, typically in separate cells.

Section 7(2) of the Correctional Services Act, 1998 (Act No. 111 of 1998), stipulates that child offenders must be housed separately from adults and in accommodation appropriate to their age. The Act further permits the National Commissioner to authorise the separate detention of inmates by age or security risk classification.

While the Department did not confirm any incidents where juveniles were housed with adult inmates, it acknowledged that not all facilities meet the infrastructure requirements for dedicated juvenile accommodation. This may suggest potential challenges in consistently applying the separation policy, especially in facilities under strain due to overcrowding.

The figures reflect an ongoing challenge in South Africa’s correctional system: accommodating a growing population of youth offenders within a limited and unevenly distributed infrastructure. The data provided highlights both regional pressure points and compliance efforts, underscoring the need for continued oversight and potential investment in juvenile-specific correctional infrastructure.