Minister condemns prison riot as DA calls for independent probe

JOHANNESBURG: Riots instigated by inmates in prisons will not be tolerated, said Correctional Services Minister Sibusiso Ndebele yesterday.

“While the Department of Correctional Services is fully committed to the humane treatment of every detainee, acts of riots by inmates at correctional centres are not acceptable and will be dealt with firmly,” he said.

“The balance between security, control and justice is paramount,” Ndebele said.

On Monday, prisoners at Groenpunt Correctional Centre in Deneysville, Free State, refused to eat and subsequently vandalised the facility, setting alight cells and offices.

During the riot, inmates attacked and injured at least four warders.

Police task teams entered the prison to try to quell the riot, and 50 inmates were injured.

The prisoners complained about the poor quality of food and also about some of the prison officials.

They also wanted one of the unit heads to be fired.

Meanwhile, Correctional Services acting national commissioner Nontsikilelo Jolingana said the situation at Groenpunt was brought under control in the early hours of the morning.

“Police are still investigating, and we call upon any person who has any information that may assist in this investigation to please contact the police,” she said.

The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) yesterday denounced “the behaviour of the prisoners who set alight Groenpunt Prison in the Free State”.

“Popcru is appalled by the lack of respect for law and order demonstrated by the prisoners, who caused damage to facilities during their rampage and injured other inmates and prison officials,” said Popcru spokesman Theto Mahlakoana.

“The union understands a small number of inmates were demanding to be transferred to other prisons and the situation got out of hand when others joined in with more demands”.

Mahlakoana commended the work done by police and prison officials in bringing the situation under control.

Meanwhile, the DA has called for an independent commission of inquiry into the riot.

“It is important that the root causes of the outbreak of this violence be determined.

“There needs to be a full and independent inquiry into the matter to establish why this riot occurred, who were the instigators of the riot, and whether grievances by inmates were allegedly the precipitate cause of the riot,” said DA MP James Selfe.

The DA would ask the Correctional Services Department to present a report on the matter to the portfolio committee when Parliament resumed. – Sapa