Inmates are dissatisfied with conditions at the Standerton Prison

South African Prisoners Organisation for Human Rights (SAPOHR) received a memorandum pertaining to conditions at the Standerton Correction Centre.

According to the internet, SAPOHR is a politically and religiously non-aligned organisation concerned with the creation of a non-racial, non-sexist human rights culture in South Africa.

Their area of work is reform of the apartheid criminal justice system.

The Standerton Advertiser received a call from a man, who called himself a rebel member of the organisation, on Thursday, January 13.

Demands were made in the memorandum about conditions at the prison and handed to the authorities on January 4.

A 14-day-period was given for the demands to be met.

The former inmate said that should their memorandum not bring about the desired results, inmates will go on a hunger strike.

He referred the newspaper afterwards to Mr Miles Bhudu, president of the organisation.

The newspaper is in possession of screen shots of the memorandum and could confirm some of the following areas of dissatisfaction;
• accommodation – space is too small.
• hygiene – clothes and bedding must be provided taking into account the climate conditions. Water supply is questionable.
• nutrition – portions are too small and no more than a 14-hour interval between supper in the evening and breakfast is demanded.
• religion – an emphasis on the Christian religion only is enforced.
• health – no medication sometimes available when visiting the hospital.
• family contact – no pay phone at the facility.
• disciplinary procedures – allegedly conducted without taking the legalities into account and allegedly not fair.

“No one has any right to assault a prisoner,” the memorandum read.

Section 32 of Correctional Services Act 111 of 1998 is cited.

The Standerton Advertiser contacted Mr Bhudu the same day, who said it is not the first time complaints are received.

“There is a hostile relationship between the organisation and the department,” he said.

He added that they are the mouthpiece of prisoners and the only organisation of its kind in South Africa.

“Whatever you are told, it will carry our support.”

Mr Bhudu however, prefers that prisoners be called revolutionaries and not comrades.

“We encourage them to stay on the right side of the law and to behave themselves.

“Their mindset needs to be changed.”

The department issued a statement on Friday, January 14. about the demands.

As to the accommodation space, the approved accommodation at the said centre is 1 262 and currently 686 offenders are incarcerated.

With regard to clothing, bedding and water supply, offenders are issued with a uniform upon admission. Every offender is issued with two pairs of trousers, two shirts, tow pairs of socks and every Thursday, toiletries are provided. They also have a store where offenders’ clothes are kept and a register to control clothes when issuing.

Nutrition-wise, a fully balance meal is given daily. For supper, they get starch, two vegetables and (meat) protein.

To ensure that the food that is prepared for offenders is of quality, managers test the food before it is served.

Breakfast is at 8:00, lunch at 12:00 and supper boxes are given at 15:00 to take to their cells to be consumed at a later stage.

With regard to water supply, the department said the water issue is not only affecting the centre, but the entire town.

They have provided temporary solutions to the crisis such as allocating funds for the drilling and equipping of a borehole to pump into the reservoir and the water is distributed to water storage tanks, located in different parts of the centre. The department also decided to buy a water truck and JoJo tanks. They have furthermore installed a filter to purify the water from the JoJo tanks and the Department of Water and Sanitation took samples to check the water quality. The outcome was that it was suitable for human consumption.

They have also been engaging the municipality in trying to reach an agreement for the provision of water to the centre. A meeting will be set up with the new mayor to determine a way forward.

As to an emphasis on the Christian religion, the statement read that there are different denominations at correctional centres.

With regard to the availability of medication at the hospital. the statement refuted the allegation.

Although no pay phone is available at the centre, offenders are assisted to phone their families at the reception area every weekend and on public holidays, using a mobile phone.

As regards to disciplinary procedures, the statement concluded by saying disciplinary procedures are are followed in all instances and offenders are nor assaulted.