SA Prison Uniforms Explained: What Each Colour Means for Inmates
- A South African Correctional Services official broke down the meaning behind each prison uniform colour in a video shared on Threads
- Yellow is worn by unsentenced awaiting-trial inmates, while orange is for sentenced offenders, blue for juveniles and women, and white for kitchen workers
- Viewers flooded the comments asking about red and green uniforms that the official did not mention in his explanation
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Source: UGC
Many South Africans have seen prison uniforms many times before but never understood what each colour actually means. A Threads video posted by @thembani.leonell.mabasa on 1 September 2026 changed that, and it quickly grabbed people’s attention.
The clip features a Department of Correctional Services official walking viewers through the colour-coded system used in South African prisons to classify and identify different categories of inmates.
What each colour represents
According to the official in the video, yellow is reserved for inmates who have not yet been sentenced and are still appearing in court as awaiting-trial detainees. Orange, the most widely recognised colour, is worn by sentenced offenders. Blue uniforms are issued to juvenile offenders as well as female inmates. White is set aside for those assigned to kitchen duties inside the facility.
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“Not just fashion, every detail has a purpose,” the post’s caption read. The system is designed to help prison staff maintain order and quickly identify which category an inmate belongs to.
Watch the full uniform breakdown here.
Source: Getty Images
Red and green left out, viewers notice
The explanation left a significant gap, and commenters were quick to point it out. Several viewers asked about red and green uniforms that the official never addressed, and the omission dominated the conversation.
South Africans in the comments on @thembani.leonell.mabasa’s post had plenty to say:
@tooly_beatz asked:
“There’s this other red one that they don’t even show on TV. You only see a selected few in it. Who’s it for?”
@blinktwice2026 questioned:
“Wait, women are juveniles? Tell me I’m wrong.”
@ltempile added:
“What about the red and green ones because there’s a green uniform and a red uniform, but you never mentioned them?”
@mufasa_nyana_wakhona said:
“I have never seen blue or white.”
@mphocarlos noted:
“His explanation is not good.”
3 more stories involving prisoners
- A TikTok video showing South African prisoners dancing and enjoying themselves in their cell sparked a wave of mixed reactions online.
- A group of men believed to be prisoners recorded a video promoting a South African artist, which quickly went viral online.
- A former prisoner visited Shumayela High School on 10 July 2026 to speak to learners about the realities of life behind bars.
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Source: Briefly News
