Warders down batons after guard stabbed

Union blames shortage of staff and overcrowding for incident at St Albans

PRISON guards are refusing to perform their duties in two sections of St Albans Prison’s C-Max unit following the stabbing of a warder on Wednesday. The 44-year-old guard, who did not want to be named, was fortunate to escape with only minor injuries after he was stabbed in the face by an inmate at breakfast.

“A prisoner came to us guards under the pretext of wanting to make a request,” he said.

“In the blink of an eye he stabbed me in the cheek with a sharp object.

“I was only thinking about my life and went for my baton for protection. I was lucky that my colleagues immediately came to my rescue.

“I was sent to the prison’s clinic and later transferred to St George’s Hospital.”

The warder said the attack was due to ongoing gangsterism in the prison.

He said that since the December riots at St Albans, which left three prisoners dead and 20 people injured, prison officials’ lives had been in danger.

“Since that incident we have not searched the prisoners because they complained about it and nothing was done by management, which means there is the possibility of prisoners having more weapons inside, putting the lives of officials in danger. “Our safety ... is not guaranteed,” he said. The SA Correctional Services Workers’ Union condemned Wednesday’s attack, adding that 18 of its members had not returned to work since the December riot.

The union’s provincial secretary, Lando Sam, said members were not receiving the support they needed from prison management.

“Our members have decided not to do their duties at two sections in C-Max which have about 700 and 800 inmates,” Sam said.

“They are trying to get the attention of management as the stabbing of prison guards is a serious issue.

“There is a shortage of staff and overcrowding of inmates. Fifteen guards have to deal with about 1 700 inmates and the maximum centre is very dangerous.

“We need more members to be allocated from other centres.”

Police spokeswoman Colonel Priscilla Naidu confirmed that a case of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm had been opened at the Kabega Park police station.

Eastern Cape Correctional Services commissioner Nkosinathi Breakfast said the stabbing of a prison guard at work was unfortunate.

“We urge families to talk to the offenders not to attack prison guards,” he said.

“We also acknowledge that we are short staffed, but early this month the department took on 69 new students.

“That is just a drop in the ocean as the experienced guards are resigning.

“However, we plan to relook at reappointing those experienced officials who resigned and can still work.”

Breakfast denied that prisoners were no longer being searched.