KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi warns that South Africa’s correctional facilities are becoming “breeding grounds” for gangs, making offenders more hardened than when they enter prison. He says the prison environment can help strengthen criminal networks rather than curbing them.
Mkhwanazi’s remarks focus on how gangs operate within prisons and how that influence can extend beyond release. The outlet presenting the comments frames the issue as a public-safety concern, suggesting that offenders may emerge with stronger affiliations and criminal skills. The report does not provide specific figures, named cases, or details on any particular prison, but it emphasizes the broader risk that prisons may be contributing to ongoing criminal activity after incarceration.
