A. Introduction Since the abolition of Apartheid in 1994, the non-racial Government of the Republic of South Africa has been improving its laws and policies to meet the challenges brought about by the new dispensation of respect for human rights, human dignity, non-racialism, nonsexism and an open and democratic society. The Government has adopted a number of laws and formulated policies to conform to this new dispensation. To this end, the Government has signed and ratified numerous human rights instruments and adhered to several United Nations and Regional Treaties and Declarations relating to the treatment of offenders and detainees. The policy of the Government in this regard seeks to turn all prisons into correctional centres and all prison officials to rehabilitators. As part of the continuing process of enhancing human rights in the country, the government has adopted an open door policy to international, regional and domestic human rights bodies to visit the country and make concrete proposals where government might be falling short. It is on this basis that the South African Government extended an invitation to the African Commission’s Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Conditions of Detention in Africa to visit the country and inspect its detention facilities from 14 – 30 June 2004. The visit falls within the mandate of the Special Rapporteur to monitor conditions in prisons and other places of detention in Member States of the African Union and make appropriate recommendations on how to enhance the protection of persons deprived of their liberty. The Special Rapporteur was accompanied to the mission by Mr. Robert Wundeh Eno, Assistant to the Special Rapporteur who is based in Banjul, the Headquarters of the African Commission. On 14 and 15 June 2004, the Special Rapporteur held meetings with the Minister and Deputy Minster of Safety and Security, the Minister, Deputy Minister of Correctional Services, including the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners of the Department of Correctional Services, the Minister in the Presidency, the Deputy Minister of Social Development and the Director General in the Department of Home Affairs. The Special Rapporteur was also invited to attend the Budget Vote of the Department of Correctional Services submitted to Parliament by the Minister. This Budget Vote outlined the proposed budget for the Financial Year 2004/2005 and the plans to improve the conditions in prisons. During the visit, meetings were also held with members of civil society and organizations working to protect the rights of persons deprived of their liberty. As the mandate of the Special Rapporteur dictates, a wide range of detention facilities including prisons, police stations, juvenile centers, a repatriation center and a mental health institution were visited. The following is an account of the activities undertaken during the mission, including facilities visited, observations and findings and/or problems identified, good practices and relevant recommendations on how to enhance the protection of the rights of persons 10 Special Rapporteur on Prisons Mission to South Africa 14 – 30 June 2004