Re-arrest of Waterkloof two welcomed

Loyiso Langeni
17 February 2014

The Democratic Alliance has today welcomed the re-arrest of two of the Waterkloof four who were released on parole last week. 

A video footage of went viral of the infamous two drinking and partying in their cell the day before they were released.

DA MP of Correctional Services James Selfe said there needs to be a standard operating procedure approach with regards to security searches across all correctional centers. 

We have written to the portfolio committee and to the regional commissioner in Gauteng to ask thorough investigation to this matter because there cannot be one set of imprisonment to the rich and another one for the poor. There cannot be one set of imprisonment for political connected and another one for the rest.

Selfe said we have to deal very carefully with corruption, nepotism and bribery in our prisons service if we are going to get success for rehabilitation in our prisons.

Meanwhile the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services has also welcomed the arrest and the investigation into the video that went viral. 

Chairperson of the committee Vincent Smith said this should be another step towards finding lasting solutions to the pro-file-ration of banned substances in correctional facilities. 

Smith said we have consistently called for technology to be used in assisting eradicating the prevalence of cellphones, we have constantly complained about collision and we think that the time has come for the department to seriously consider our recommendations and the portfolio committee to deal with officials that collude in terms of smuggling contraband into our cells.