KEY POINTS
- Prison officials are heavily involved in smuggling contraband into KZN facilities.
- Westville Prison has recorded an alarming number of confiscated cellphones.
- Dilapidated prison infrastructure is worsening conditions for both inmates and staff.
Officials at correctional facilities in KwaZulu-Natal are deeply involved in the smuggling of contraband, an issue that has raised serious concerns about security and corruption within South Africa’s prison system.
The alarming revelation surfaced during a parliamentary portfolio committee’s oversight visit to several correctional centers across the province.
The committee, led by Chairperson Kgomotso Ramolobeng, toured facilities in Durban (Westville Prison), Pietermaritzburg, Kokstad, Empangeni, and Eshowe.
What they found was disturbing: an intricate network used by inmates to smuggle cellphones, drugs, and other illegal items into prison.
Even more shocking was the evidence suggesting that prison officials were actively facilitating these operations.
Prison officials caught aiding contraband trade
According to Ramolobeng, some correctional officers are turning a blind eye—or worse, directly participating in smuggling—to earn extra income.
She explained that financial struggles and unresolved employee grievances within the correctional system have driven many officials to engage in illicit activities.
“We were bombarded with emails and messages from honest officials exposing their colleagues who are involved in smuggling,” she said.
Westville Prison, one of the most notorious facilities, has recorded a significant increase in confiscated cellphones from inmates.
Between April 2024 and January 2025, authorities seized a worrying number of devices, indicating that the smuggling networks are thriving despite efforts to curb them.
However, there was one exception: eBongweni Super-Maximum Correctional Centre in Kokstad.
The facility maintained strict security protocols, which made it a model institution devoid of contraband. Ramolobeng praised its management and suggested that other prisons should adopt similar security protocols.
Dilapidated infrastructure adds to prison woes
Beyond security failures, the committee highlighted the dire state of prison infrastructure, particularly at Westville Prison.
Ramolobeng described parts of the facility as being in a state of disrepair, with leaking roofs and kitchens that failed to meet health and safety standards.
“We found that the kitchen in the remand detainee unit was non-functional, and we have ordered it to be shut down,” she said. “The department must present an exit strategy and a renovation plan before reopening it.”
Other prisons faced similar challenges. Pietermaritzburg Medium A and B had only one operational stove for a high number of inmates, making it nearly impossible to provide adequate meals.
Kokstad Correctional Centre also required urgent repairs, particularly in its kitchen, which supplies food to eBongweni.
Another pressing issue was the high number of acting positions within prison management. The committee urged the Department of Correctional Services to immediately fill vacant, funded posts to improve operations.
For unfunded vacancies, they recommended waiting for approval from the Department of Public Service and Administration.
Despite repeated attempts, the Department of Correctional Services did not respond to requests for comment on these findings.
