Barberton Correctional Facilities (BCF) has been experiencing water shortages since last year.This resulted in officials driving inmates to town so that they could have access to water.
Last Tuesday the mayor of Mbombela, Cllr Sibusiso Mathonsi, and the area commissioner of BCF, Solly Netshivhazwaulu, held a meeting to finalise immediate solutions to the situation at the prison farm.
Boreholes were previously drilled to find enough water for the offenders.
According to technicians, there is enough ground water to supply all the prisons. The boreholes can supply up to 550 000 litres per day. The water was also tested and it was confirmed to be in drinkable condition. The local municipality has promised to assist with connecting pipes from the boreholes to the reservoirs.
According to Mesia Moses Hlungwani, communications manager of Barberton management area, artisans from the municipality would have started to connect pipes from the boreholes to the reservoirs on February 13.
“The municipality also donated four JoJo tanks, that each hold 30 000 litres, which will ensure that there will be running water every day. Prison farm also purchased an 18 000-litre water tanker and four JoJo tanks with the capacity of 5 000 litres each. This will be used as a backup if the drilled boreholes experience any problems.”
Hlungwani said the connection will channel water to the reservoir that supplies the prison farm. It will only be accessed by correctional services. The mayor said when she heard how bad the situation was at the local correctional centre, she felt it was time immediate action was taken to resolve the issue. “I was deeply touched and I promise to work with the service centres to ensure that offenders have water.
“To us, correctional services is not an institution. It is regarded as part of the community. When members of the community do not have access to basic services it is our concern.”
The area commissioner said he is convinced that the partnership will bring a lasting solution to the shortage of water at the prison farm. “As correctional services, we are expected to incarcerate offenders in a humane environment.
“If we fail to provide basic services to them, we will be tampering with their rights. Therefore we are committed to work with the municipality and other interested institutions to ensure that offenders are well taken care of.” The commissioner appreciated the assistance received from the Office of the Mayor.
“The city is blessed to have a mayor who cares so much about the citizens. This intervention by the mayor will make things easier for us and offenders are happy with the help from the municipality,” said Netshivhazwaulu. The mayor is expected to visit the prison farm this week to ensure that the project of connecting boreholes to the reservoir is running and implemented.
