Behind Prison Walls: 30 Unnatural Deaths in 9 Months as MPs Slam “Catastrophic Failure”

South Africa’s prison system is facing a severe safety crisis, with 30 inmates dying of unnatural causes in just nine months last year, a parliamentary committee has heard. The shocking figures, presented behind closed doors due to ongoing investigations, sparked fierce condemnation from MPs who blamed chronic staff shortages and a systemic failure to protect those in state custody.

The period from April to December 2025 saw a spike in suicides, which Correctional Services officials attributed to inadequate supervision and the deteriorating mental health of inmates. One committee member highlighted the dire staffing reality: a correctional centre near Durban sometimes has only four wardens guarding 600 inmates.

“An Outrage and Unacceptable”

The revelations provoked anger from opposition MPs. The EFF’s Carl Niehaus lambasted the department, stating, “The simple truth is that any single one death that is unnatural in our prisons should be considered an outrage and unacceptable.” He criticised the slow pace of accountability, noting that since 2022, only nine officials had been dismissed out of 88 charged in relation to prisoner deaths.

uMkhonto weSizwe’s Musawenkosi Gasa called the death toll “a catastrophic failure to provide a safe and humane environment as mandated by the constitution.”

The Suicide Watch Debate and Ministerial Skepticism

Niehaus demanded that inmates who attempt suicide or show warning signs be placed on proper suicide watch, calling anything less a “dereliction of duty.” However, Minister of Correctional Services Pieter Groenewald offered a more cautious perspective. While agreeing mental health support is needed, he warned against manipulation, suggesting some inmates might claim suicidal intent to “get special treatment.”

On the murder of inmates by officials, Groenewald questioned the vague policy on “minimum use of force” and acknowledged that investigations often drag on. He stressed that while the vast majority of officials are trustworthy, a corruptible minority are exploited by prison gangs, a problem the department has a duty to stamp out.

The session peeled back the curtain on a system buckling under overcrowding, understaffing, and a profound lack of mental health resources. As the committee awaits final post-mortem results on the 30 deaths, the question remains whether these statistics will finally trigger the urgent, systemic overhaul MPs are demanding, or simply add to a grim and growing tally.