Zuko Komisa
- Operation Vala 2025/26 netted over 8,000 mobile phones and 3,000 weapons nationally.
- Gauteng led in phone and cash seizures, while KwaZulu-Natal saw the highest drug hauls.
- The findings highlight critical vulnerabilities caused by chronic understaffing and budget constraints.
Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald has detailed the significant scale of contraband within the prison system following the conclusion of Operation Vala 2025/26.
In a written response to Parliament, the Minister confirmed that over 8,000 mobile phones and thousands of weapons were confiscated, exposing deep-seated security flaws linked to resource shortages.
The national crackdown yielded a staggering variety of illegal items. Gauteng emerged as the primary hub for illicit electronics and currency, recording 2,321 mobile phones and over R37,000 in cash.
Meanwhile, KwaZulu-Natal reported the highest volume of narcotics, including more than 20kg of cannabis. The Eastern Cape was identified as the most prolific region for homemade weaponry, with 768 sharpened objects recovered by wardens.
In the Western Cape, specifically at facilities like Pollsmoor and Oudtshoorn, authorities seized 1,309 items, including crystal meth (tik), mandrax, and cocaine.
Across all provinces, the total value of confiscated cash exceeded R102,000, which included various foreign currencies such as Pula and Kwacha.
Minister Groenewald noted that 12 significant security breaches occurred during the two-month peak of the operation between December 2025 and January 2026.
The department continues to face an uphill battle against the influx of prohibited goods, citing staffing deficits as a primary hurdle in maintaining facility integrity.
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