MADLANGA COMMISSION: Where criminals rule the roost — Correctional Services boss outlines SA prisons’ parlous state

Correctional Services head Makgothi Thobakgale has described the state of South Africa’s overcrowded prisons – gang infiltration persists, inmates still have access to cellphones, and illicit drugs are moving around. He has also spoken about detainees allegedly linked to the Islamic State extremist group.

South Africa’s prisons have effectively transformed into operational bases for organised crime, allowing incarcerated gang leaders to seamlessly direct street-level operations, according to National Correctional Services Commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale.

He was testifying on Thursday, September 17, before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, which is investigating whether a cartel has infiltrated South Africa’s criminal justice system – from law enforcement and prosecuting powers to prisons.

His detailed submissions laid bare a grim reality inside facilities across the country, exposing a system where state control has buckled under the weight of pervasive corruption, smuggling and gang rule.

He testified that Correctional Services officials are involved in contraband smuggling and giving inmates cellphone access, pointing out that overcrowding remains a problem, gang infiltration persists, and street and prison gangs collude to sustain the illicit drug trade.

One of the more alarming aspects of Thobakgale’s lengthy testimony related to the Islamic State (Isis), which he described as “a violent extremist group […] operating across central, eastern and southern Africa”.

He said that on 5 May this year, the Hawks had asked that a group of detainees, allegedly affiliated with Isis, be separated from general prison inmates.

#sapsHAWKS Gauteng: ISIS affiliated suspect arrested for murder and kidnapping amongst other charges. Ryan Mitchell Grobler (33) has appeared before the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 11/09 following his arrest on the same day facing charges of murder, kidnapping,… pic.twitter.com/VSFmW1Wrts

“The detainees were found in possession of a cellphone, providing clear evidence that they had maintained unauthorised communication with individuals outside the correctional centre,” Thobakgale testified.

“This communication created the potential for the group to continue coordinating activities and issuing instructions from within the correctional centre.”

Thobakgale explained that “although prohibited, large numbers of cellular phones are confiscated [from prisoners] annually. They are used by incarcerated offenders to direct criminal operations, coordinate drug distribution, orchestrate the intimidation or assassination of witnesses and officials, and facilitate fraud against members of the public.”

Thobakgale said prison officials were no longer allowed to bring their cellphones into correctional facilities after some were found to have allowed prisoners to use their devices.

Confiscations of cellphones in prisons surged from 30,215 in the 2023–2024 financial year to 39,242 in 2025–2026.