These figures were revealed by the Free State Health Department in response to OFM News’ list of questions on the reasons behind the high volume of state patients currently accommodated at the Grootvlei Prison located outside Bloemfontein.

Grootvlei’s Medium A Facility accommodates the largest number of state patients, who are not technically inmates, in the country as of August 2019, with the latest report from the Department of Correctional Services, revealing there are 29 state patients in that facility.

The South African Journal of Psychiatry defines state patients as "individuals who have been charged with criminal offences and have been declared unfit to stand trial and/or who are not criminally responsible because of their mental illness or defect”. These patients are usually housed at a psychiatric facility.

In mid to late 2018, the forensic ward at the ageing psychiatric hospital underwent renovations following some concern from delegates of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) over the low hanging ceilings amongst other issues. During this period, the state patients were temporarily moved to Grootvlei Prison during the construction period. The spokesperson for the Provincial Health Department, Mondli Mvambi, confirms the renovation of the forensic ward is now complete, stating overcrowding as the only reason why there are still state patients at Grootvlei.

Mvambi explains “all the state patients who were on the waiting list by May 2019 were transferred from Grootvlei prison to the Free State Psychiatric Complex”.  His statement does not indicate when they were moved and how many are left at Grootvlei presently.

Mvambi lists “an increase of mental health users being declared as state patients, as well as families who are not willing to take rehabilitated state patients back home”, as some of the issues resulting in the overcrowding of the forensic ward.

OFM News