More prisons are being built as a result of an expansion programme initiated by the government during 1987 and 1988. Reports indicated the development of 'special facilities' for the increasing number of child prisoners and detainees.
According to the Minister of Justice, Kobie Coetsee, South African prisons have a capacity for 84,802 inmates. However, at the end of March there were 89,000 sentenced and 21,000 awaiting-trial prisoners. In addition according to a statement by the Minister of Law and Order in February 1988, the 'daily average' of people held in police cells numbered 14,917. These figures and those below exclude prisoners and prison facilities in the 'independent' bantustans of Transkei, Ciskei, Bophuthatswana and Venda.
An increase in expenditure on prisons was seen in the budgets of both the Department of Prisons, and Public Works and Land Affairs. The Department of Prisons was allocated R630.4m in the March 1988 budget, an increase of R140.8m. In the Eastern Cape, a region where trials of opponents of the government have been particularly numerous, out of a total budget of R10.8m for building projects the Department of Public Works designated R7.4m for construction and 'improvement' of prisons in the region. Of this, R6.1m was allocated towards a prison in Cradock with an estimated total cost of R14.6m. Plans for another new prison, in Queenstown, were announced by the Department of Prisons in January 1988. Although full details of developments in the bantustans are not available, in October 1987 it was reported that a new maximum security prison, costing R14m, was being built at Umtata in the Transkei bantustan.
Government figures released in 1987 and 1988, although not always clear regarding the specific age range referred to, indicated an increase in the number of young people in custody. In January 1986 there were 2,016 'youngsters' awaiting-trial and 3,036 sentenced prisoners. This compares with over 2,700 'teenagers' in prison awaiting trial and over 4,700 sentenced prisoners 'ranging in age from under 15 to 19 years' at the end of 1987. Juveniles held awaiting-trial in police cells between 1983-1986 numbered 170,000. In 1986, juveniles held in these conditions numbered 58,962 and in May this year the number reported was 63,360 'aged 17 or under'.
CHILDREN: 'SPECIAL FACILITIES'
At least two special facilities for juvenile prisoners have been opened. On 1 April 1986 a facility was opened at Leeuwkop Prison near Johannesburg. In September 1987, Parliament was informed of a second juvenile facility in operation at Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town.
Some indication of the nature of 'programmes' pursued at these facilities, which are described as 'rehabilitation', is available. In 1986, the Deputy Minister of Education described Leeuwkop as part of a 'top priority programme' to provide 'effective treatment' for those juveniles who were not 'hardened criminals' and 'more receptive to influence and change than the adult transgressor' in order to 're-integrate them with society.' This policy is being developed at a time when increasing numbers of youths have been sentenced for their part in political protest.
Special provision appears to be planned for young detainees as well as convicted prisoners. On 19 June 1987 R Meyer, the Deputy Minister of Law and Order, stated on radio that 'black youths who had been involved in revolutionary activities were being given special attention at rehabilitation centres'. In August 1987 Parliament was informed of 'additional facilities' which were being 'planned by the state in respect to juveniles and children'. These statements were substantiated by reports in August 1987 which indicated that the government had plans to construct a maximum security 'rehabilitation' centre for child detainees under 18 years old near Stutterheim. The centre, said to be costing R1.7m, was designed to cater for 72 children.
BUDGET FOR REPRESSION: 1988
Funding for the Department of Defence was increased by more than 20 per cent in the South African state budget announced in March. Defence was the second largest item in the budget (after the Department of Finance) - R8.19 billion. A further R1.79 billion was allocated to the police, a 12 per cent increase. Real expenditure will be even higher as money for police and military forces is also drawn from other departments.
Some of this additional expenditure was reflected in a figure of R12.15 billion given by the government as the total allocated for 'protection services'. This is the first time such a total has been given. Projected military expenditure was given as R8.56 billion, police R2.12 billion and expenditure on Prisons and Justice R1.13 billion. This total amounts to just under a quarter of projected state expenditure.
