Coronavirus: Correctional Services: Prison riots about cellphones and cigarettes not coronavirus, authorities claim By Estelle Ellis
Department of Correctional Services said on Thursday that several prison riots have been triggered by a decision to raid cells for contraband.
According to confidential official reports the prisoners are unhappy about restrictions on visits, a prohibition on food brought in from the outside, and a bar on receiving money, cigarettes and tobacco from family members.The fires were extinguished. Apart from the unrest triggered by the raids there was also a violent protest at the Baviaanskloof prison in Gauteng.But Frank Mbdezi from the South African Prisons Organisation, added his voice to calls for action to reduce overcrowding as well in aHe wrote: “ I carefully read the minister’s statement about coronavirus in prisons. He made it very clear that inmates are creating fake stories about the disease.
He said warders were threatened with violence during the raids by “a few individuals purporting to be representing the interest of offenders”. The National Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Arthur Fraser, added that: “No amount of irritation can propel someone to destroy state property worth thousands of rands funded by the taxpayer, and put the lives of other offenders and correctional officials at risk. This is a clear act of hooliganism and shall never be tolerated by this department.
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