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Empty corridor at a prison facility.
The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) has demanded that management of the Baviaanspoort Correctional Centre in Pretoria withdraw the newly implemented shift changes pending a proper dispute resolution process.
On Tuesday, union members staged a protest after accusing the prison’s management of victimising and unlawfully suspending union representatives.
The union is also demanding the immediate release of arrested members, an end to intimidation of workers and the reinstatement of its chairperson.
Popcru spokesperson Richard Mamabolo says,“There has been unilateral changes in the shifts system that has been imposed by management – meaning that there are new working hours without any form of consultation. Those decisions are supposed to be taken at a national level. There are bargaining councils wherein such things are discussed and there has been a lot of discussions over the years about the implications to the shift system, so it cannot be the competence of a regional manager to make those changes.”
He adds, “And of course, when members do complain about these changes, they then get suspended. So, members have been trying to call a meeting with the management to look into all those challenges and yet they’ve been met with resistance and arrogance.”
PODCAST | Popcru spokesperson Richard Mamabolo’s interview on First Take SA on SAfm:
Meanwhile, the Correctional Services Department has dismissed claims of victimisation and abuse of authority by Baviaanspoort prison management against Popcru representatives.
Correctional Services Department spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo says the claims are unfounded.
“There has never been an introduction of any new shift system, but what is in place is an appointment of an acting area commissioner, whose task is to strengthen management and ensure that the facility operates in line with the prescripts of the Correctional Services Act. Not so long ago, the department uncovered a syndicate resembling a call centre operation run by inmates who were defrauding members of the public in broad daylight. Such criminal activities cannot be allowed to thrive under our watch as a department.”
