Hundreds of South Africans detained in jails overseas

More than one hundred have been arrested with the possibility of facing trial.

"A total of 824 people are in prison abroad, while 111 have been arrested with the possibility of facing trial,'' says the department's Chris Chetty.

The department launched its travel smart campaign on Tuesday, to inform South Africans on the services offered by missions abroad. 

This comes after a group of 51 South African teachers were detained in China for over three months after contravening the Chinese immigration laws.

Deputy Minister Reginah Mhaule says when locals are arrested, there is not much the department can do, other that offer assistance. 

 She called on South Africans to research the countries they are visiting. 

"We cannot take away the supremacy of any country. You have a country like Jamaica, where marijuana is legal, when you come to South Africa with a packet full of marijuana, we will arrest because it is an offence in South Africa. Our people must research the countries that they are going to." 

Two South Africans are in custody in China for allegedly recruiting the group of prospective South Africans and helping them obtain study visas instead of working visas. 

Mhaule says the department is still in contact with Chinese authorities to try and free the two South Africans. 

"We are not going to stop as South Africa to talk to our sister country, China….. We will still follow up and check as to what offence they did to the country but we cannot interfere when they have committed against the country."