Courts blamed for prison overcrowding

Two inmates have recently escaped from the Johannesburg Maximum Prison

Ongoing postponements in the country's courts are causing backlogs, resulting in overcrowded prisons. Last year only one third of about 958 000 court cases went to trial. The other two thirds were struck off the roll and legal experts say poor investigations by overburdened police are to blame.

Case postponements are the order of the day in most magistrate and regional Courts. Experts say the system relies on the competence of its many roleplayers, including the SAPS, court officials and correctional services, and the inefficiency of even one link in the chain sets in motion a chain reaction.

Llack of resources
Stephen Tuson, of the Wits law clinic, says there is also a lack of resources in some police stations as there is one vehicle for five detectives and they get eighty cases to attend to, 20 to 30 witnesses to see, it is just humanly impossible with the limited resources available.

Last week an SAPS assessment revealed that half a million cases remain unresolved every year. While police investigate, perpetrators remain in prison. The prisons are 140% full, costing the taxpayer R40 489,45 per inmate, per year. Many believe alternatives must be sought. Stakeholders also believe training within the SAPS and the justice system is crucial to ensure that speedy justice is meted out.