15 Dec 2015

The Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Shaw Kgathi, says prisons within the maximum security category are faced with overcrowding.

Answering a question in Parliament recently, the minister said holding space in prisons was limited with cells becoming congested owing to increased levels of serious crime.

“Prisons operating above holding capacity are those in the maximum security category.  

The maximum security prisons hold inmates who have committed serious crimes such as murder, manslaughter, armed robbery, rape and others. 

These offences carry punishments ranging from 10 years imprisonment to life imprisonment as well as death sentence,” Mr Kgathi said.

He said offenders in maximum security prisons were considered dangerous and a threat to public safety, and were thus confined to selected facilities in Gaborone and Francistown.

“As at 11 November 2015, there were 511 inmates against the holding capacity of 330 which translates into 64 per cent overcrowding in Francistown and Gaborone maximum prisons.  

The overcrowding is mainly due to the increasing trend of committal of serious crime, while there is limited space for such population of inmates,” Mr Kgathi said.

He further revealed that prisons catering for other offences are operating at a slight margin of 2 per cent below their holding capacity. 

Mr Kgathi was answering a question from the Member of Parliament for Selebi-Phikwe West Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse who had asked the minister to name prisons operating beyond and below their holding capacities, and to state the reasons for such. Ends