PORT ELIZABETH - ST ALBANS PRISON WARDERS TOO AFRAID TO WORK AFTER CHRISTMAS DAY ATTACK

A deadly prison attack the day after Christmas at Port Elizabeth’s maximum security prison was planned and executed by gang members.

National commissioner of correctional services Zach Modise told The Citizen yesterday that about 30 gang members belonging mostly to the lethal and notorious 27s and 28s gang inside the St Alban’s Prison used Boxing Day to attack any prison official during the breakfast service.

“Normally, these gangs have got this tradition on the [significant] day of the year to attack officials. Yes, we are worried, that is why we are here,” Modise said, following a briefing by officials at the prison yesterday morning. St Alban’s, considered one of the “top five” maximum security prisons in the country.

It has a reputation for gang violence against guards, as well as for the smuggling of dagga and Mandrax tablets.

St Alban’s prison warders, who spoke to The Citizen on condition of anonymity, recounted how they feared for their lives going to work every day, never knowing if they would return home to their families. Some even book off sick when they are too scared to go to work.

They said the latest attack was an attempt by prisoners to take over the prison and that they were outnumbered by inmates – a problem that should have been addressed years ago.

However, they feel the department of correctional services has been ignoring their plight.

The stabbing spree played out in the dining area of the maximum security section of the prison, which houses 647 inmates.

At the time of the attack, only 33 prisoners had been released from two cells.

In a statement released after visiting the locked-down prison, Deputy Minister Thabang Makwetla said the offenders were carrying sharp objects and home-made knives.

“In order to strengthen our enforcement capabilities, we have decided to place St Alban’s on lockdown and suspend all family visits to the centre.

This is a necessary step to bring back normalcy to the centre,” he said.

Lockdown means inmates are only allowed out of their cells to get food and won’t be allowed any visitors.

He commended officials who managed to “quell this rebellious act that could have led to a calamitous situation”.

In addition to an internal inquiry, the SA Police Service had also been called in to investigate.

The minister indicated that he was annoyed that contraband continued to flow in and out of prisons by both inmates and staff.

The police and prisons’ civil rights union said violence in prisons was an ongoing trend in the system.

This follows a similar incident at Gauteng’s Leeuwkop and “Sun City” prisons, featuring “violent scuffles” between inmates and guards.

“We are irate over the lack of putting into practice the necessary measures aimed at ensuring the core function of rehabilitating inmates and the insurance of a safe working environment for correctional officials,” the union said.

The union lashed out at the department for ignoring the plight of officials in a country that had a prison population of just over 160 000, serviced by 26 000 prison officials.

South Africa has the fastest-growing prison population, the 11th highest in the world.



VIA - randburgsun.co.za