Correctional Services Department to investigate prison riots

Athenkosi Mvane

29 January 2013

The Department of Correctional Services has strongly condemned recent riots in prisons.

Earlier this month, prisoners at the Groenpunt Correctional Centre at Deneysville in the Free State set fire to parts of the facility which resulted in three prisoners being killed and over 60 injured.

Last week, at least 20 inmates at Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town were injured when a riot broke out between inmates.

The Democratic Alliance Shadow Minister of Correctional Services James Selfe said the Correctional Services Department needs to conduct a thorough investigation about this.

Selfe said the department had to stabilize the situation and reintroduce discipline; it also needs to investigate the root causes of the violence.

“For this reason, we are calling for appointment of an independent inquiry; it is insufficient in our view that the department investigates itself because in that way, it is not going to get to the root of the problem” self added.