South Africans currently incarcerated abroad in corrections centres as sentenced offenders, remand detainees and detainees awaiting deportation; and the services that the Department of International Relations and Cooperation provide to these citizens
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO: 2979 (NW3484E)
PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO: 30-2015 OF 14 AUGUST 2015
Mr J Selfe (DA) to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation:
(a) How many South Africans are currently incarcerated abroad in corrections centres as (i) sentenced offenders, (ii) remand detainees and (iii) detainees awaiting deportation and (b) what services does her department provide to the specified persons?
REPLY:
(a)(i) Sentenced offenders: 501
(ii) Remand detainees: 271 On bail: 2 On parole: 80
(iii) Detainees awaiting deportation: Nil
GRAND TOTAL: 854 AS ON 31 JULY 2015
(b) The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) provides to South African nationals arrested and detained abroad what can generically be described as consular assistance in terms of article 36 of the Vienna Convention of 1963. Essentially the Department seeks to ensure that South African citizens arrested abroad are accorded humane treatment while incarcerated in foreign detention facilities. In this regard issues such as torture, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment and lack of medical care is reported and taken up with the local authorities. We can however not negotiate for better treatment in prison other than what local nationals in the same prison receive.
UNQUOTE
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