House of Assembly: Vol13 - WEDNESDAY 26 APRIL 1989
†Indicates translated version.
For written reply:
General Affairs:
asked the Minister of Public Works and Land Affairs:
- (1) Whether any extensions have been made to the Presidency in Pretoria; if so, (a) at what total cost, (b) (i) when and (ii) in what manner were tenders invited, (c) what were the (i) highest and (ii) lowest tenders received and (d) (i) which tenders were accepted and (ii) why;
- (2) whether a survey of existing facilities in Pretoria was made before work on the Presidency began; if not, why not; if so, (a) when and (b) what were the results of the survey;
- (3) (a) how many persons can the Presidency accommodate at present and (b) how many State banquets were held there in 1988?
B174E
- (1) No. Extensions are presently being made to the Presidency in Pretoria.
- (a) The total cost is not yet available.
- (b)
- (i) November 1988
- (ii) Tenders were called for from selected contractors
- (c)
- (i) R3 007 000
- (ii) R2 350 000
- (d)
- (i) The tender for R2 350 000
- (ii) As it was the lowest and most favourable tender for the State.
- (2) No. The executive of the Central Government is seated in Pretoria where the State has a need of an own multi-purpose conference facility which can accommodate 600 persons within a secured area. Facilities for functions should also be available. The basic facilities are available at the Presidency. By adding a conference hall, which can also be used for functions for large groups, the utilitarian value and functional utilization of this historic national asset are enhanced.
- (3)
- (a) A maximum of 180-210 persons can be accommodated in the main sittingroom for meetings/conferences, by placing chairs after the style of a theatre.
- (b) None. The existing facility does not lend itself to the presenting of State banquets.
asked the Minister of Public Works and Land Affairs:
- (1) Whether the building known as the old training college in Queen Victoria Street in Cape Town falls under the control of his Department; if not, under which Government Department does it fall; if so,
- (2) whether it is the intention of his Department to renovate or demolish this building; if so, what are the estimated costs involved in the project;
- (3) whether the building is in use at present; if so, what are the relevant details?
B436E
- (1) Yes.
- (2) No. Planning is in progress for the transformation and refurbishing of the building for the Department of Justice (State Attorney). The provisional estimate is R1,5 million.
- (3) Yes. The building is used by the South African National Arts Museum and the South African Museum for storage purposes pending the transformation and refurbishing thereof.
asked the Minister of Justice:
- (1) (a) How many prisoners can be accommodated in South African prisons at present, (b) what was the current daily average prison population as at the latest specified date for which information is available and (c) how many unsentenced prisoners were there in prison in the Republic on that date;
- (2) whether any prisons were over-populated in 1988; if so, (a) which prisons and (b) what was the average rate of over-population in each case?
B544E
- (1)
- (a) According to the norm mentioned below, 83 895.
- (b) The daily average for December 1988 is 109 924 (see Annexures A and B for analysis of sentences and crimes).
- (c) On 31 December 1988 there were 19 997 unsentenced prisoners in South African prisons.
- (2) Yes, in the sense that the norm was exceeded. However, as mentioned on various occasions in the past, over-populated prisons is a relative concept. The accommodation figure for South African prisons is determined against a broad norm and the highest standards of hygiene and health are maintained. Everything possible is done to keep prisoners productively occupied and this gives rise to the fact that a large number of prisoners mainly work outside the prison during the day.
Prisoners also have access to spacious courtyards and ample opportunity is given for outdoor recreation. In view thereof, overcrowding as such is not an unmanageable phenomenon. However, attention is given to overcrowding in South African prisons on a continual basis. The situation at prisons with an above average influx of admission due to the temporary circumstances is alleviated by the transfer of prisoners to prisons with a lower occupancy level. The application of this deconcentration policy has resulted in a more even distribution of the prison population and therefore considerable relief has been effected with regard to occupancy levels in general. A further method for utilizing available accommodation more efficiently, is by implementing stacked beds to such an extent that hygiene and health standards are still complied with.- (a) and (b)
On 31 January 1989 the prisons mentioned below were over-populated to the extent as indicated next to each prison:
Western Cape, Boland and
Southern Cape
Prison |
% Over-populated |
Allandale (The construction of a new prison is receiving attention) |
85,2 |
Beaufort West (The construction of a new prison is included in the priority list for inclusion in the major works services programme) |
71,1 |
Bien Donne |
57,6 |
Buffeljagsrivier (The modernisation of the prison with the construction of a section for unsentenced male prisoners is included in the major works services programme) |
81,9 |
Brandvlei Medium (The expected date of completion of the new prison is October 1989) |
67,8 |
Brandvlei Maximum (The construction of a new prison is included in the major works services programme) |
84,9 |
Caledon (Extentions, alterations and improvements have already commenced) |
64,9 |
Dwarsrivier |
74,1 |
George Male (Additional accommodation will be added during modernisation of the prison) |
83,4 |
Graaff-Reinet (The construction of a new prison is included in the major works services programme) |
57,3 |
Hawequa |
50,7 |
Helderstroom Medium |
72,0 |
Helderstroom Maximum |
91,9 |
Klein Drakenstein |
74,0 |
Knysna (The expected date of completion of the new prison is November 1989) |
72,6 |
Ladismith (The modernisation of the prison is being planned) |
55,9 |
Malmesbury (The modernisation of the prison is being planned) |
72,1 |
Obiqua |
83,0 |
Oudtshoorn (The construction of a new prison is included in the major works services programme) |
78,2 |
Paarl (The new prison which is being erected at Allandale will also alleviate this situation) |
60,4 |
Pollsmoor Maximum |
99,6 |
Pollsmoor Medium A |
35,0 |
Pollsmoor Medium B (The construction of a new prison is included in the major works services programme) |
9,9 |
Riebeeck West |
73,9 |
Robben Island Medium |
71,4 |
Robertson |
76,4 |
Springbok |
7,4 |
Staart van Paardeberg |
73,5 |
Stellenbosch |
27,1 |
Swellendam (The prison is to be closed as soon as the additional accommodation at Buffeljagsrivier is erected) |
42,0 |
Uniondale |
72,5 |
Voorberg (The construction of a new prison is included in the major works services programme) |
68,0 |
Victor Verster Medium A |
80,8 |
Victor Verster Medium B |
87,2 |
Victor Verster Maximum (The construction of a new prison is included in the major works services programme) |
84,2 |
Victoria West |
52,5 |
Warmbokkeveld |
84,7 |
Worcester Male (The modernisation of the prison is being planned) |
91,8 |
Worcester Female |
66,4 |
Apart from the new prisons/ alterations to existing prisons as mentioned above, the construction of the following prisons appear on the major works services programme/on the priority list to be included in the major works services programme: Darling Kraaifontein Atlantis Kweekkraal (Brandvlei near Worcester) The new Mosselbay Prison was commissioned during January 1989. |
Eastern Cape (including Goedemoed Prison)
Prison |
% Over-populated |
Barkly East (The construction of a new prison is included in the priority list for inclusion in the major works services programme) |
15,7 |
Colesberg |
4,5 |
Cradock (The expected date of completion of the new prison is October 1989) |
69,0 |
East London Medium A (The expected date of completion of the modernisation of the prison is 1990/91) |
47,0 |
Fort Beaufort |
3,7 |
General J C Steyn |
67,1 |
(The construction of the new prison is receiving attention) |
|
Goedemoed Medium A |
18,7 |
Grahamstad Male (Additional accommodation for unsentenced male prisoners is being planned) |
59,1 |
Jansenville (Extentions, alterations and improvements are being planned) |
35,5 |
King William’s Town |
6,4 |
Middelburg Male (Cape) |
2,6 |
Patensie |
41,3 |
Prince Albert (Modernisation of the prison is being planned) |
68,6 |
Port Elizabeth Male (Modernisation is being done. See note at St Albans) |
77,2 |
Port Elizabeth Female (Modernisation is being done. See note at St Albans) |
43,7 |
Queenstown (The construction of a new prison is included in the major works services programme) |
31,3 |
St Albans Maximum (Three new prisons for St Albans are included in the major works services programme. Civil engineering services have already commenced and one of the prisons is already under construction) |
65,8 |
St Albans Medium |
49,2 |
Zastron Apart from the new prisons/ alterations to existing prisons as mentioned above, two new prisons (at Elliot and Aliwal North) appear on the priority list to be included on the major works services programme. A prison farm for the Eastern Cape is included in the major works services programme. |
21,5 |
Northern Cape
Prison |
% Over-populated |
Calvinia |
46,2 |
(The modernisation of the prison is being planned) |
|
De Aar |
19,4 |
Douglas Male |
38,5 |
Kimberley Male (Currently busy with the modernisation of the prison) |
63,6 |
Kuruman |
22,8 |
Upington Male (Additional accommodation is being planned) |
34,4 |
Van Rhynsdorp |
84,3 |
Apart from the new prisons/ alterations to existing prisons as mentioned above, the construction of the following prisons is included in the major works services programme/ priority list for inclusion in the major works services programme: A prison farm in the Warrenton area (Mayeng); a new prison at Vryburg. |
Orange Free State (excluding PWV area)
Prison |
% Over-populated |
Bethlehem Male (Currently busy with the modernisation of the prison) |
25,9 |
Bloemfontein Male (See the note at Grootvlei) |
51,9 |
Brandfort |
2,1 |
Fauresmith (The construction of a new prison is included in the major works services programme) |
4,9 |
Ficksburg (The construction of a new prison is included in the major works services programme) |
11,8 |
Frankfort |
27,0 |
Grootvlei Medium (The modernisation of the prison is being planned) |
66,6 |
Grootvlei Maximum (The construction of a new prison is being planned) |
63,2 |
Harrismith (The construction of a new prison is included in the priority list to be included in the major works services programme) |
30,5 |
Heilbron |
11,3 |
Hennenman |
21,7 |
Kroonstad Medium A |
26,6 |
Ladybrand (The construction of a new prison is included in the major works services programme) |
32,8 |
Odendaalsrus Male |
68,4 |
Senekal |
40,8 |
Virginia Male |
33,1 |
Virginia Female |
54,5 |
Winburg Apart from the new prisons/ alterations to existing prisons as mentioned above, new prisons at Welkom and Ficksburg are envisaged for this region and are already included in the priority list for inclusion in the major works services programme. |
13,2 |
PWV Area
Prison |
% Over-populated |
Brits |
50,3 |
Groenpunt Maximum |
10,8 |
Groenpunt Medium (These prisons are at present being modernised. Extentions to the Maximum Prison are underway.) |
47,4 |
Heidelberg Male (Extentions, alterations and improvements are being planned) |
42,4 |
Johannesburg Medium B (sentenced) |
73,2 |
Johannesburg Medium A (unsentenced) |
19,0 |
Krugersdorp Male |
27,5 |
Leeuwkop Maximum |
77,9 |
Leeuwkop Medium A |
24,8 |
Leeuwkop Medium B |
3,2 |
Leeuwkop Medium C (The construction of a new prison is included in the major works services programme) |
34,5 |
Modderbee (Improvements are being planned) |
52,2 |
Nigel (Extentions, alterations and improvements are being planned) |
41,6 |
Pretoria Maximum (Additional accommodation has already been planned. Part thereof is under construction) |
43,5 |
Pretoria Local |
59,2 |
Sasolburg |
30,7 |
Vereeniging Male |
34,7 |
Voortrekkerhoogte Apart from the new prisons/ alterations to existing prisons as mentioned above, new prisons at Boksburg, Voortrekkerhoogte as well as a new female prison at Krugersdorp, are already under construction. |
16,3 |
Eastern Transvaal
Prison |
% Over-populated |
Barberton Maximum |
65,6 |
Barberton Male |
29,8 |
Barberton Medium B |
73,3 |
Carolina |
44,0 |
Geluk |
16,9 |
Lydenburg (The construction of a new prison is included in the priority list for inclusion in the major works services programme) |
6,7 |
Middelburg (Tvl) |
47,5 |
Nelspruit Male |
35,5 |
Standerton Female |
23,2 |
Standerton Medium B |
24,3 |
Volksrust |
4,5 |
Witbank Male (The construction of a new prison is included in the major works services programme) Apart from the new prisons/alterations to the existing prisons as mentioned above, the construction of new prisons at Secunda and Bronkhorstspruit is included in the priority list for inclusion in the major works services programme. |
53,9 |
Northern Transvaal
Prison |
% Over-populated |
Baviaanspoort Maximum (The modernisation of the prison is being planned) |
63,0 |
Baviaanspoort Medium (The construction of a new prison at Baviaanspoort is being planned. Civil engineering works are underway) |
79,7 |
Losperfontein |
5,7 |
Louis Trichardt (The construction of a new prison is included in the priority list for inclusion in the major works services programme) |
25,5 |
Nylstroom |
25,9 |
Pietersburg (Extentions is partly completed) |
53,7 |
Rustenburg |
44,3 |
Tzaneen Apart from the new prison/ alterations to the existing prisons as mentioned above, a prison farm at Alldays as well as the construction of a new prison at Tzaneen is included in the major works services programme. A new prison at Zonderwater is under construction. |
36,0 |
Western Transvaal
Prison |
% Over-populated |
Klerksdorp Male |
41,3 |
Lichtenburg |
35,5 |
Potchefstroom Male Apart from the prisons mentioned above, the construction of new prisons at Wolmaransstad, Zeerust and Lichtenburg is included in the priority list for inclusion in the major works services programme. |
50,3 |
Natal
Prison |
% Over-populated |
Bergville (The construction of a new prison is included in the priority list for inclusion in the major works services programme. Extensions, alterations and improvements of the existing prison are being planned) |
32,3 |
Bulwer (The construction of a new prison is included in the priority list for inclusion in the major works services programme. Extentions, alterations and improvements of the existing prison are also being planned) |
48,9 |
Dundee |
55,7 |
Empangeni (The construction of a new prison at Richards Bay which is being planned, will alleviate the situation) |
53,8 |
Estcourt (The construction of a new prison is included in the major works services programme) |
33,3 |
Glencoe Male (The construction of a new prison is underway) |
42,2 |
Greytown (The construction of a new prison is included in the major works services programme) |
18,4 |
Ixopo (The construction of a new prison is included in the priority list for inclusion in the major works services programme) |
40,7 |
Kandaspunt (A new prison is currently under construction) |
38,6 |
Kokstad (The construction of a new prison is included in the major works services programme) |
42,4 |
Kranskop |
30,6 |
Ladysmith (Natal) |
7,7 |
Mapumulo (The construction of a new prison is included in the priority list for inclusion in the major works services programme. Extentions, alterations and improvements are also being planned) |
2,4 |
Matatiele |
33,9 |
Mtunzini |
54,6 |
Newcastle (The construction of a new prison is included in the major works services programme) |
42,6 |
New Hanover |
20,9 |
Nkandla |
12,8 |
Pietermaritzburg Medium A |
26,8 |
Pietermaritzburg Medium B (Although the new prison is still under construction, a part thereof has already been occupied) |
92,4 |
Port Shepstone (The construction of a new prison is included in the priority list for inclusion in the major works services programme) |
56,4 |
Sevontein |
30,7 |
Umzinto (The civil engineering services for a new prison has just been completed) |
75,5 |
Utrecht |
2,4 |
Verulam |
5,5 |
Vryheid |
45,5 |
Waterval Apart from the new prisons/ alterations to existing prisons as mentioned above, a prison farm for this region is included in the major works services programme as well as new prisons at Pongola, Pietermaritzburg and Stanger. Extentions, alterations and improvements at Nongoma Prison are being planned. A new prison for Estcourt is included in the priority list for inclusion in the major works services programme. |
49,1 |
The South African Prisons Service annually provides a priority list of identified building projects to the Department of Public Works and Land Affairs in view of incorporating them in the major works services programme according to which building work is programmed for a term of five (5) years.
This programme is revised annually according to the availability of funds. The fact that a specific project appears on the major works services programme does not imply that it will be executed within five (5) years.
Annexure A
Analysis of the prison population as on 31 December 1988
Sentenced |
1988-12-31 |
Up to and including 6 months |
6 458 |
More than 6 months to under 2 years |
11 957 |
2 years to 5 years |
35 302 |
Longer than 5 years to 10 years |
22 219 |
Indeterminate sentences |
4 274 |
Longer than 10 years to 20 years |
6 834 |
Longer than 20 years and imprisonment for life |
1 037 |
Unsentenced |
19 997 |
Others |
357 |
(Psychopaths, State President’s patients, corporal punishment, periodical imprisonment, persons condemned to death) |
|
TOTAL |
108 435 |
Annexure B
Analysis of offences concerning the 69 666 prisoners who were serving sentences of two years and longer on 20 January 1989.
(Several prisoners are serving sentences for more than one of the offences mentioned below)
Violent offences |
35 639 |
For example murder, robbery, assault, rape, etc. |
|
Economic offences Theft and other offences of which dishonesty is an element as well as illegal financial or economic transactions. |
117 968 |
Offences concerning drugs For example dealing in drugs and possession of drugs. |
4 260 |
Other offences not yet mentioned Drunken driving, possession of fire arms and explosives without a licence, arson, offences against the security of the State, Aviation Act, etc. |
21 679 |
Analysis of offences concerning the 11 957 prisoners who were serving sentences of more than 6 months up to 2 years on 20 January 1989.
Violent offences |
3 283 |
Economic offences |
13 086 |
Offences concerning drugs |
1 174 |
Other offences |
3 131 |
asked the Minister of Education and Development Aid:
How many pupils (a) (i) wrote and (ii) passed the 1988 matriculation examinations, and (b) obtained (i) A, (ii) B, (iii) C, (iv) D and (v) E aggregates, in respect of each secondary school falling under the control of his Department in the Western Cape?
B637E
(a) |
(i) |
(ii) |
(b) |
(i) |
(ii) |
(iii) |
(iv) |
(v) |
|
Fezeka secondary |
95 |
45 |
— |
— |
— |
5 |
9 |
||
Intshukumo comprehensive school |
56 |
13 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
3 |
||
ID Mkize secondary |
74 |
15 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
2 |
||
Luhlaza secondary |
83 |
63 |
— |
— |
4 |
10 |
11 |
||
Malizo secondary |
203 |
87 |
— |
— |
— |
4 |
6 |
||
Langa secondary |
70 |
35 |
— |
— |
— |
3 |
8 |
||
Isilimela comprehensive school |
66 |
13 |
— |
— |
1 |
1 |
— |
||
Crossroads No 3 secondary |
53 |
31 |
— |
— |
1 |
3 |
7 |
||
Sizamile secondary |
121 |
68 |
— |
— |
2 |
7 |
7 |
||
Simon Hebe secondary |
67 |
17 |
— |
— |
— |
1 |
2 |
asked the Minister of Justice:
Whether the Prisons Service is experiencing staff shortages; if so, what (a) is the extent of the shortages and (b) is being done to remedy the situation?
B644E
(a) and (b) Yes. Shortages are experienced in the following vocational groups:
— Work study officer
— Integrated information system (computer personnel)
— Agriculturist
— Agricultural technician
— Tradesmen
— Finance personnel (Accounts clerk)
— Logistics personnel (Material supporting clerk)
— Musician
— Nurse
— Pharmacist
— Psychologist
— Typist
Due to the general under-supply on the labour market, these vacancies simply cannot be filled.
There were no vacancies on the fixed establishment of the disciplinary occupational group, on 1 April 1989. However, the existing fixed establishment as on 1 April 1989 does not reflect the shortage of 5 306 posts which, due to financial realities, are being attended to on a planned and continuous basis by means of the provision of funds on the South African Prisons Service’s budget.