MOST DANGEROUS PRISONS IN SOUTH AFRICA
Not all prisons in South Africa are equal in terms of safety. While no correctional facility is truly “safe,” certain prisons have earned notoriety due to extreme violence, overcrowding, gang control, and dire conditions. These institutions are often unsafe for emotionally or physically vulnerable inmates, where life can be lost with little consequence. Below is a list of some of the most dangerous prisons in the country, based on official reports, firsthand accounts, and media investigations.
1. Pollsmoor Prison – Western Cape
Known for: Extreme gang violence, sexual exploitation, TB outbreaksControlled by The Numbers (26s, 27s, 28s), especially among Coloured gangs.Brutal gang rituals, rape-as-discipline, and forced recruitment are common.Infections spread rapidly due to overcrowding and lack of medical access.Some warders are either complicit or too afraid to intervene.”Pollsmoor is where you get broken — physically, spiritually, or mentally.”
2. Westville Correctional Facility – KwaZulu-Natal
Known for: Hardcore gang enforcement, hierarchy-based violenceHome to bold, battle-hardened criminals and strict Number gang codes.
Non-gang members face intimidation, taxation, assault or forced gang integration.Control is deeply embedded within cell blocks, making survival without gang ties nearly impossible.
3. Matatshe Prison – Thohoyandou, Limpopo
Known for: Violence, mysticism, and dark spiritual warfareThis facility is feared for its spiritual dimension: witchcraft, curses, and ritual killings.
Inmates and guards alike reportedly participate in or fear “dark rituals”.
Unexplained deaths, sudden illnesses, and rumors of being “bewitched” are common.”At Matatshe, you don’t just fight for your life — you fight for your soul.”
4. Leeuwkop Maximum Security Prison – Gauteng
Known for: Stabbings, gang dominance, violence against resistorsControlled by gang structures that enforce silence, discipline, and revenge.
Inmates who refuse to join gangs often end up stabbed or targeted.Security is inconsistent — gang leaders often act with impunity.
5. Helderstroom Prison – Western Cape
Known for: Echoes of Pollsmoor brutality, exploitation of new inmatesShares many characteristics with Pollsmoor: sexual abuse, initiation rituals, gang court justice.
Inmates often report being “broken in” upon arrival, physically or sexually.
High levels of violence and little protection for the weak or new.
Additional Dangerous Prisons (Honourable Mentions)
• St. Albans Prison (Eastern Cape)
Known for deadly riots, inmate vs. warder violence, and gang battles that leave several dead or maimed.
• Boksburg Correctional Centre (Gauteng)
Another hotspot for gang recruitment, knife violence, and drug smuggling.
• Groenpunt Prison (Free State)Site of violent riots, hostage-taking of warders, and large-scale gang unrest.
• Brandvlei Maximum (Western Cape) Rife with initiations, gang “trials,” and covert executions of disloyal inmates.
• Barberton Maximum (Mpumalanga) Old-school brutality persists; solitary confinement is severe, and violence remains unchecked.
Why Kokstad & Kgosi Mampuru II Are Different
These are high-security “warden-controlled” prisons with tighter surveillance and infrastructure:
Kokstad’s Ebongweni facility is solitary-based — inmates get 23 hours/day in isolation.
Kgosi Mampuru II (C-Max) houses South Africa’s most dangerous offenders under extreme lockdown.While violence is lower, these prisons are far from “safe.” The danger is psychological and systemic, not chaotic.
Understanding the Prison Power DynamicType of Danger DescriptionGang-Controlled Prisons Violence is inmate-driven. Control is dictated by gang hierarchy. New inmates often get “taxed,” beaten, or raped.Warden-Controlled Prisons Less chaos, but psychological torture, isolation, and harsh punishments create different trauma.
Spiritual Warfare Prisons Rare but real: spiritual attacks, mysterious deaths, and deep fear from inmates and guards alike.