12 Aug 2026

The Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Mr Nelson Ramaotwana says he is aware that the holding capacity of Kanye Prison was 129 inmates and that it is true that the prison is holding more than its capacity. 

Answering a question in Parliament on Tuesday, Mr Ramaotwana said as at 7th August 2026, the prison had 177 inmates. “Congestion at the prison is 37 per cent above its capacity. 

We are in the process of arranging transfers of some of the inmates to Gantsi and Tsabong prisons, which are holding inmates far below their capacity. 

The transfers will reduce the congestion and hopefully, bring it down to the capacity of the prison,” said Ramaotwana. 

The minister said there were plans to expand or upgrade to build a prison at Lobatse during the next plan period, adding that the project had been approved under the title Lobatse Rehabilitation Centre. 

He said the prison would have a much bigger capacity and it will therefore ease congestion at prisons and consequently allow for improved delivery of programmes. 

Mr Ramaotwana promised that government was committed to addressing the situation. 

“We will be constructing 12 housing units at the station next year. It is expected that the houses will be completed in December 2027. 

In the meantime, we are working towards increasing rented houses for officers in Kanye. 

So far three houses have been identified and we are working towards procurement of leases for the houses,” he said. 

MP for Kanye East, Mr Prince Mosanana had wanted clarification on measures government was taking to address overcrowding challenges at the facility. 

Mr Mosanana also wanted to understand whether there were plans to expand or upgrade Kanye Prison to ensure acceptance standards of inmate accommodation, rehabilitation and safety of correctional officers. ENDS