Prisoners' children stay with mothers until weaning

He added that upon weaning, such children were taken by the parents’ relatives and where there was no willing relatives, arrangements were made to hand over such children to foster care services. Kgathi said in terms of Section 66 (8) of the Prisons Act Cap 21:03 alternative care to such children is arranged through their mother’s consent. He said the Office in Charge should also be satisfied that such children could be placed under the proposed custody. 

“There were 24 females found to be pregnant when criminally charged and sentenced to serve prison terms from 2014 to 2017 from 2014 till 2017. Upon admission in to prison all necessary arrangements were made for the female prisoners to enroll for Ante Natal Care (ANC) and to thereafter continue with regular monitoring until the time of delivery,” he said.