The current prison population in the Centre is represented as shown on the table below: Age 13 years 14 years 15 years 16 years 17 years 18 years 19 years 20 years 21 years Total Total 0 2 15 44 69 200 220 231 132 913 The most common crimes which the inmates commit are theft and robbery. The Leeuwkop Maximum Prison has a total of 1,665 prisoners for an approved occupancy space of 763. It holds inmates serving long sentences ranging from 10 years and above. The prison is divided into four sections and has two categories of cells - the larger cells measuring 14m x 12m which holds about 49 inmates, while the small cells hold about 28 inmates. Most of the cells are overcrowded and some prisoners are forced to sleep on the floor as there are no spaces for more beds to be put in the cells. The prison has no outdoor activities and prisoners spend most of the time in their cells. Violent prisoners are secluded and sent to isolated cells for a period of time. At the time of the visit, there were no prisoners in the isolation area. xi) Lindela Repartriation Centre The Lindela Repatriation Centre is located in the Gauteng province, some 80 kilometers from the capital, Pretoria. The word Lindela is a Zulu word meaning place of waiting. The Centre was opened by the Department of Home Affairs in 1996 for the apprehension, processing, detention and repatriation of illegal immigrants/undocumented migrants. It is argued that the Centre was established because of the ever-increasing burden on police cells and the lack of detention capacity in South African prisons. Thus, the illegal immigrants, once apprehended are not taken to court, charged, tried and detained for violating South African immigration laws. They are instead taken directly to Lindela where they are kept for not more than 30 days awaiting repatriation. A detainee can be kept for more than 30 days (up to 90 days) only by a court order. Lindela is an Accommodation Centre managed by BOSASA (meaning the future), a private company specialising in Full Facilities and Secure Care. Lindela consists of two distinct and independent sections, namely Department of Home Affairs and the Lindela Accommodation (Repatriation) Center, each with its own full time trained staff and officials and its own functions and responsibilities. 27 Special Rapporteur on Prisons Mission to South Africa 14 – 30 June 2004

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