Chairperson, the entire justice system is being fundamentally undermined, because South Africa's prisons are being allowed to remain in their current state of rampant overcrowding and disrepair.
The government needs to increase its efforts to repair and upgrade existing prisons and to build new prisons to house our more than 150 000 prisoners. The Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services recently found that the so- called Sun City facility is almost 300% overcrowded, some prisoners even sleeping inside the toilet area.
The countrywide overcrowding rate of our prisons is currently 76,3%. This unacceptable situation is making a mockery of the department's own aim of providing a safe and humane environment in which rehabilitation should take place. An overcrowded prison environment serves only to sap staff morale and promote illegal activities, attempted escapes, corruption and gangsterism inside prison. As long as this situation is maintained, our prisons will continue to be universities of crime. Much more needs to be done to upgrade and renovate existing prisons and to build new facilities.
We are aware that there are currently efforts to address these problems, such as the prison building programme, etc. However, they should be speeded up and rolled out countrywide as soon as possible. Thank you, Chairperson.