Africa and Zimbabwe have signed a Memorandum of Understanding allowing eligible sentenced prisoners to potentially serve the remainder of their sentences in th...
Africa and Zimbabwe have signed a Memorandum of Understanding allowing eligible sentenced prisoners to potentially serve the remainder of their sentences in their home countries.
The agreement was signed on Friday, August 21, 2026, during the Fourth Session of the South Africa-Zimbabwe Bi-National Commission in Pretoria by South Africa’s Minister of Correctional Services Pieter Groenewald and Zimbabwe’s Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Ziyambi Ziyambi.
The agreement establishes a framework for the interstate transfer of sentenced offenders between the two neighbouring countries. Zimbabwean nationals serving sentences in South Africa could therefore be transferred to Zimbabwe to complete their sentences, while South African prisoners held in Zimbabwe could be transferred to South Africa.
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The arrangement forms part of broader cooperation between the two countries in correctional services. The agreement also covers areas including information sharing, technical cooperation, staff development, exchange visits and initiatives aimed at improving self-sufficiency in correctional facilities.
South African authorities have highlighted the number of foreign nationals in the country’s correctional facilities as the prison system continues to face overcrowding.
As of June 2026, South Africa had 170,518 inmates across 243 correctional centres, including 27,906 foreign nationals. More recent figures provided by the Department of Correctional Services showed the total inmate population had reached 173,368 by August 9, with 30,289 foreign nationals.
Zimbabweans make up the largest group of foreign nationals in South African prisons, according to Groenewald. He said the government was pursuing arrangements that could allow foreign offenders to serve their sentences in their countries of origin.
Groenewald said South Africa currently has more than 4,000 Zimbabwean prisoners, while Zimbabwe has about 12 South African prisoners. The transfer framework could therefore have a larger immediate impact on Zimbabwean nationals serving sentences in South Africa.
South Africa also faces significant costs associated with keeping prisoners in its correctional facilities. The government has previously put the daily cost of incarcerating a prisoner at more than R460 per person.
The agreement is also expected to support rehabilitation by allowing eligible offenders to serve sentences closer to their families and support networks. Kgomotso Ramolobeng, chairperson of South Africa’s Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services, said such bilateral agreements could reduce pressure on correctional facilities and incarceration costs while supporting rehabilitation.
The development follows years of discussions between South Africa and countries in the region over the transfer of foreign prisoners. A 2025 South African parliamentary record noted that discussions on prisoner transfers with Zimbabwe and other SADC countries had previously been held, but the process faced challenges related to domestic legislation and policy.
Zimbabwe already has legislation dealing with the transfer of offenders. Its Transfer of Offenders Act provides a legal framework for transferring offenders to and from Zimbabwe and allows applications for transfers to be considered by the relevant authorities.
The signing of the new agreement therefore provides a formal bilateral framework for cooperation between the correctional authorities of the two countries.
The agreement was concluded as part of wider efforts to strengthen relations between South Africa and Zimbabwe through their Bi-National Commission. The commission, established in 2015, serves as a mechanism for managing cooperation between the two countries across various areas.
The prisoner transfer arrangement does not mean that all Zimbabwean prisoners in South Africa will automatically be moved to Zimbabwe. Transfers will apply to eligible sentenced offenders under the framework and relevant legal requirements.
For prisoners who qualify, serving the remainder of a sentence closer to home could make it easier for families to maintain contact while supporting rehabilitation and eventual reintegration into society.
