‘Breeding grounds for gangs’: Mkhwanazi warns SA prisons are making criminals worse

KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has expressed concern that prisons in South Africa are becoming "breeding grounds" for crime and gang activity. Speaking to MPs, Mkhwanazi questioned whether correctional facilities were fulfilling their intended purpose of rehabilitating offenders, suggesting that these institutions may be teaching inmates how to function within criminal networks instead.

Mkhwanazi pointed out that some convicts enter prison with minimal knowledge of crime but leave having been recruited into gangs. He noted that these individuals, initially innocent, could emerge from prison with sophisticated criminal skills and the language of gangs. Additionally, Mkhwanazi raised concerns about the smuggling of contraband into correctional facilities, citing an official recently arrested for attempting to bring contraband into a facility.

In the 2025/26 financial year, 2,388 correctional officials faced disciplinary action, with 137 implicated in contraband smuggling and 289 suspended or dismissed. The prison population stood at 169,519 in May, with an overcrowding rate of 58%. Mkhwanazi's remarks come amid ongoing issues with contraband and misconduct inside correctional facilities.

He emphasized the need for a comprehensive review of the entire criminal justice system, suggesting that current approaches may be reinforcing the cycle of gang violence, as offenders are arrested, incarcerated, and then return to society with enhanced criminal strategies. Mkhwanazi also questioned the potential involvement of individuals working within the criminal justice system in gang activities, citing examples of judges removed from their positions due to unethical behavior.