Prisoners’ organisation wants visiting rule eased

THE South African Prisoners Organisation for Human Rights (Sapohr) is calling for government to relax the regulation on prison visitations.

Prisoner rights activist Golden Miles Bhudu of Sapohr said the prohibition of visitation was infringing on the rights of the inmates and their families.

The regulation came into effect at the start of the lockdown in March.

Bhudu said: “There wasn’t even an intention to inform both the sentenced offenders and their loved ones, so that preparations could have been made, in advance,” said Bhudu.

He said the department should consider lifting the ban on visits under level 2.

Logan Maistry, the deputy commissioner for communications at the Department of Correctional Services, said the risk-adjusted strategy was being reviewed and visits during level 2 were being considered in line with Covid-19 protocols.

Bhudu said the union was also concerned that the department had yet to release inmates on parole as promised.

The department in March announced that it would release 19000 inmates to help prisons cope with capacity issues and deal with the spread of Covid-19.

Maistry said as at August 12, 9537 qualifying low-risk offenders were granted parole under correctional supervision to continue to serve their sentences in the system of community corrections.

He said many of the parolees were above the age of 60, sick and at risk of contracting Covid-19.

He said from the projected qualifying inmates, 84% had been considered for parole placement; 52% had been released on parole, and, 32% had been given further profiles.

“Since the special parole dispensation does not remit sentences, these offenders were placed out subject to placement conditions which must be complied with until they serve their sentences in full,” he said.

Meanwhile, the department said as at Tuesday, Covid-19 active cases were reduced to 11% with 735 cases, comprising 256 inmates and 479 officials.

It said recoveries stand at 5 474, which translates to a recovery rate of 86%.

“Active cases for inmates represents 0.18% of the country’s total inmate population, with confirmed cases standing at 1.64% of the inmate population across the country’s 243 correctional facilities. The inmate recovery rate is 86%,” said Maistry.

Furthermore, the department said the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases is 6312, constituting 4039 officials and 2273 inmates. Regrettably, 103 deaths comprising 60 officials and 43 inmates have been recorded.