Cape Town – The stench of faeces inside a toilet filled with waste, fly-infested and leaking cells, flooded floors, beds without mattresses, damaged infrastructure, crime and corruption is what greeted Correctional Services Minister Dr Pieter Groenewald and members of the portfolio committee on security and justice during a recent oversight visit to Pollsmoor Prison.
The is the harsh reality what wardens and staff told the delegation they were faced with on a daily basis, often having to man over 200 remand prisoners awaiting trial. There are no windows or electrical sockets, beds or mattress or lights in cells they were housed in.
The committee heard how contraband would be smuggled via mattresses, or how corrupt officials transported cellphones into the prison after court visits. This was just another day behind one of the country’s most overcrowded and notorious prisons.
The committee is now awaiting a report from the Department of Correctional Services and Public Works on what requests were made to fix damaged infrastructure and to resolve issues of a lack of cell space , beds, electrical services to windows and many more.
They have now called for speedier cases for awaiting-trial prisoners.
Groenewald, who visited the kitchen section of the prison, had asked why two stoves had not been repaired in two months awas told by staff that the Department of Public Works' contractor was awaiting a part for the appliances.
He also questioned why some staff on duty were not wearing the required headgear while preparing food.
Eune Oelofse, for Groenewald's office, told Weekend Argus they would be releasing a response about the visit soon.
National Commissioner for Correctional Services, Makgothi Samuel Thobakgale, who had been part of the oversight visit, told Nicholas Gotsell, DA member of the National Council of Provinces, who also serves on the Judicial Services Commission (JSC), that the lack of staff attributed to much of the corruption.
Thobakgale walked with Gotsell to various parts of the remand centre in Medium Section C and B where cells were left abandoned due leaking roofs or a lack of beds to windows and were left in a state of disrepair.
When asked why prisoners were allowed to have cellphones, Thobakgale said this was due to corruption.
Gotsell commented that what he had seen was shocking and he called for speedier trials and court appearances.
“The DA calls on Ministers of Justice and Correctional Services, Thembi Simelane and Pieter Groenewald, to urgently fast-track the use of virtual hearings, where these are possible, as a first step towards addressing the issue of remand detainees.
“This will also help reduce the risk involved in the transportation of prisoners and contribute to cost-cutting,” he said.
“It was, however, on being shown the B and C sections, originally not part of the formal programme, which raised eyebrows and had correctional services officials on the back foot.
“The unannounced tour revealed inhumane conditions inconsistent with the provisions contained in the Bill of Rights. It led to uncomfortable questions by the DAs representative in the oversight committee.”
Lennard de Souza, Deputy Director: Inspections/investigations: Directorate Legal Services, Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services, said they had been part of the oversight visit and made regular recommendations for conditions to improve for inmates.
“JICS' Independent Correctional Centre members visit the Pollsmoor centres daily and report on the general state of the centre, including cleanliness, overcrowding, infrastructure and other aspects every month,” he said.
“JICS also conducts inspections at all correctional centres and rates every centre on a scale of ‘Good’, ‘Satisfactory’ or ‘Unsatisfactory’. During the last JICS inspection of the Pollsmoor Remand Detention Facility in 2023, the centre was found in an unsatisfactory condition. The centre was cleaned before the visit.
“JICS hopes that the improved level of hygiene will be maintained in future.”
A staff member at the hospital section of the facility told the committee that they were also understaffed and revealed that their facilities were often used as a scapegoat for prisoners who were due to be sentenced.
“When they want to escape, the gap they find is health care,” said the official.
Golden Miles Bhudu, of the South African Prisoners for Human Rights, said the observation by the minister and the committee was nothing new. But he hoped this would be an exception in providing a solution to the dire conditions.
“We just also reiterate that the Women’s Remand Detention centre in Pollsmoor is not unique and has the same poor conditions as the men,” he said.
“On the women's cells, the visit report we received was that women shared beds or slept on the floor on thin mattresses which were stinking.
“We call on the newly appointed minister and his team to reach out to the external creditable stakeholders to put emphasis and assist the tens of hundred of prisoners,” Bhudu added.
Groenewald’s office said in at statement that the Minister values the committee's freedom to view any area of their choosing, in addition to the set program, as it promotes transparency and oversight.
“The Minister acknowledges all the significant concerns raised by the Select Committee and assures the public that the Department is actively working on finding solutions. The committee remarks confirm the pertinent issues already on record duly identified by the Minister and strengthen his call for inter-departmental collaboration in finding solutions to these crises.”