PRETORIA – The Department of Correctional Services seized more than 8,000 cellphones smuggled illegally into prisons across the country during a festive season operation.
Providing an update on Operation Vala, Correctional Services National Commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale said a total of 8,063 cellphones were confiscated nationwide.
The department conducted 5,592 searches between December and January.
Gauteng emerged as the primary hotspot, accounting for 2,321 seized devices.
A total of 3,144 sharpened objects were also removed from correctional facilities. The Eastern Cape, Free State and Northern Cape recorded the highest volumes of seized sharpened objects.
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During the festive season, the prison population exceeded 170,739, far surpassing the department’s approved capacity of 107,671 beds.
KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West contributed the largest share of drugs seized.
“More than 46 kilograms of loose dagga were seized, in addition to thousands of dagga slopes and blades. Significant quantities of 1,012 Mandrax tablets were also confiscated, particularly in the Western Cape,” Thobakgale said.
A total of R102,726 in cash was also confiscated.
“Small quantities of foreign currency were seized, along with 400 counterfeit South African banknotes in the Free State and Northern Cape region,” he said.
While the Western Cape conducted the highest number of searches, it yielded lower cash recoveries compared to regions such as the Eastern Cape.
“The operation has demonstrated improved capability at management-area level, and this capacity is being maintained and strengthened,” Thobakgale added.