The aim is to develop a system that would see convicted foreign nationals sent back to their home countries to serve their prison sentences there.

Groenewald has raised concerns about the high cost of having foreigners serve time in South African prisons, noting that the move would significantly reduce the financial burden on taxpayers.

“We are already in talks with the Department of Justice, and we are already also in conversation – specifically with our neighbour countries  to have a memorandum of understanding, that we can then send people that have been sentenced back to their country of origin,” said Groenewald.

He further explained the financial strain that foreign inmates place on the correctional system: “The foreigners in our facilities are costing the taxpayer more than R11 million per day. I am of the opinion that we must continue and I do believe in the end it will have a positive effect.”

--SABC--