Health scare for New Prison inmates

RELATIVES of inmates incarcerated at New Prison in Pietermaritzburg are concerned that their loved ones are at risk of contracting coronavirus due to overcrowding and lack of proper hygiene at the facility.

Some have alleged that the prison is not adhering to the necessary hygiene standards and physical distancing to avoid the spread of the virus.

To date, no known cases have been reported at the prison.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a relative of an inmate said her brother had raised numerous concerns including the shortage of staff, overcrowding in the cells and lack of hygiene by officials.

“I have a family member who is in New Prison Correctional Service.

Since we all know that the government is trying to stop the spread of the coronavirus, it is supplying sanitisers in all places.

“But within the prison, inmates are neglected. Nothing is done to protect them as they are packed in small cells, with no health measures being put in place. I fear for the lives of those prisoners because they also have rights like other citizens.

“They have banned visitors, but we are concerned about the virus because there is still the issue of overcrowding. “My relative told me they still have between 50 and 100 per room.”

The Department of Correctional Services did not respond to a request for comment, but previously rejected claims that it was failing to maintain the required standards of hygiene.

On the issue of overcrowding, the department said it could not remove “the fact of overcrowding, but we have internal systems of managing it”.