Image for illustrative purposes. Picture: Gallo Images / Brenton Geach The lurking potential for violence and the excessive overcrowding of prisons have again been highlighted by the Department of Correctional Services (DCS). Correctional Services National Commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale held a briefing on Monday morning, where he outlined the current state of prisons.
The prison population reached a new high during the festive season, while the commissioner elaborated on several incidents of concern from the second half of 2025. Thobakgale’s briefing centred around the work of Operation Vala, a 2025-26 festive season campaign targeting prominent correctional centres. During the campaign, DCS conducted 5 592 searches featuring 59 310 correctional officials deployed in multiple capacities.
Targets were identified using decentralised intelligence sharing, sending officials to correctional centres that displayed “increased movement, heightened visitations and elevated risks of contraband smuggling”. The Western Cape and Gauteng were the most active, accounting for 56% of all searches conducted. Across December and January, 8 063 cell phones were confiscated, with 2 321 of those devices being found in Gauteng.
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Additionally, R102 726 in cash was confiscated, 3 144 sharpened objects were removed, 46kg of marijuana was confiscated, and in the Western Cape alone, 1 012 mandrax tablets were found. An increase in law enforcement drives nationally over the festive season saw the prison population reach 170 739 — a system with an inmate capacity of 107 067. “This level of incarceration represents the highest population recorded in recent years, and has placed immense pressure on infrastructure, staffing, security management and budget, compounded by reduced court activity during the period,” said Thobakgale.
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