Correctional Services urged to address issues of safety at facilities

The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) in the Northern Cape has called on the Department of Correctional Services to urgently address issues of safety across the country’s correctional facilities. This comes after a prison official was allegedly attacked by an inmate at the Tswelopele Correctional Center in Kimberley.

The official who was attacked was admitted to hospital and later discharged.

The Tswelopele Correctional Center is not new to incidents of violence. In March 2022, two inmates were killed during a scuffle with officials. The inmates allegedly attacked an officer with padlocks and his colleagues intervened, leading to the inmates’ deaths.

Popcru Secretary Mbabali Mkhontwana says the department must take measures to protect officials.

“It becomes a concern to us that when there are no preventative measures that the department is not taking since 2022. Now, if we look into personnel, each unit has 240 inmates and officials guarding those inmates its less than 10,” says Mkhontwana.

Previously inmates torched their prison cells, complaining about abuse by officials. The disciplinary case against some prison officials at the facility is pending following their suspension. They were accused of among others using excessive force against the offenders.

Mkhontwana says they demand the employment of more staff members.

“We request the department must first employ personnel. The department must put precautionary measures in terms of giving members safety protective gear,” says Mkhontwana.

The Department of Correctional Services has condemned the weekend incident.

Spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo says such incidents might escalate.

“We continuously caution inmates against engaging in such unsavory acts. Our strategy to combat gangsterism directly addresses these allegations and officials are reminded of its importance. We do believe this is not the time for grandstanding or speculation on training provided for officials. Instead, we call for a united effort to combat toxic cultures that bring disorder that led to tragic outcomes,” says Nxumalo.

Police have confirmed that they have opened a case of assault with an intent to cause grievous bodily harm.