Allegations of abuse at Kimberley prison
But report also finds much that works well
A report by Justice Edwin Cameron describes serious problems at Tswelopele Correctional Centre in Kimberley, but also finds some positive aspects to the prison. GroundUp requested the report after an allegation of assault was reported to us by a relative of one of the inmates.
Any judge is allowed to inspect a prison. Cameron and three law clerks visited the prison in October 2016. This visit was spurred by allegations by prisoners of assault.
The report describes findings of an investigation by the Judicial Inspectorate of Correctional Services (JICS). It found that the contract for the CCTV security cameras expired more than a year ago and 99% of the camera recording system doesnât work, the general maintenance contract expired more than two years ago, warm water isnât available, and inmates canât freely use the toilet in the hospital wing at night if an official doesnât open the cell doors. This means inmates âare forced to make use of plastic bags and bottles to relieve themselves.â Numerous allegations of ill treatment in one of the prisonâs units were also made.
But the report also found aspects of the prison working well. It is not overcrowded. In one unit visited, condoms are available, and almost all inmates are tested regularly for HIV. There is a mobile library and cells have televisions and radios. Prisoners can make phone calls during the day. The quality of the food is satisfactory. The prison also produces bread for Kimberley. Many of the prisoners are studying for matric or with UNISA. Cameron wrote that Hendrik Johannes, the head of the prison, and his staff were informative, professional and experienced. âOverall, the centre is in good condition and, though there are design problems, such as the lack of access to hospital ward bathrooms at night, the building itself is new and clean and functional.â
The report also tells this story: âDuring our visit, a long-term insider, nicknamed Klaargelag (âDone Laughingâ), presented a poem about HIV awareness, which he performed. His performance was dramatic, energetic and unforgettable. The offendersâ response to Klaargelagâs presentation was jubilant and evidently appreciative.â
Inhumane treatment at K2
Much of the report deals with a unit called K2. The complaint GroundUp received â which we are continuing to investigate â is about an inmate who was in K2. Prisoners are threatened to be sent to this unit if they complain and once in the unit, inmates who are pursuing degrees canât continue studying and their exercise is limited. Also, prisoners said they are often intimidated by Johannes before they are transferred to K2. Further, they can only make phone calls during the weekend and these calls count as visits.
The JICS report found that treatment of prisoners in K2 is inhumane. K2 appears to be the place where âbehaviourally difficultâ prisoners are sent.
During the visit to K2, 15 inmates presented Cameron with complaints of assault against Johaness or other officials. Also, âseveral inmates stated that Johannes assaulted offenders in his office before they were sent to the unitâ. Although Johannes offers reasons for why force may have been used against inmates, nowhere in the report does he deny using force.
Prison officials were accused of using excessive force in incidents in November 2015. In the first a prison official was stabbed. The JICS report found that subsequent âuse of forceâ by officials when transferring the culprits to K2 was âjustifiedâ. However, a few days later prison officials assaulted inmates using tonfas. The JICS report found that this was âirrational and was employed as a punishment against inmates who were associated with the stabbing of the prison warderâ.
The prison doctor informed Cameron that minor injuries because of assault were treated.
Johannes told Cameron that âthe use of K2 as a âdelinquentâ unit may endâ and that the centre may have to deal with offending inmates in their respective units to avoid K2 being overcrowded or making it a âcentre for crimeâ.
Cameron recommended that âa new system be implemented to relocate prisoners to K2â. He suggested Johannes consider closing K2 altogether, which Johannes responded positively to. However, this would require a new disciplinary system to be implemented in the prison to replace the current policy of transferring delinquent prisoners to K2.
Cameronâs report states that âdisciplinary procedures against the officials implicated must be implementedâ and recommends that âthere should be decisive departmental follow up on the JICS recommendations regardingâ the November assaults. It also says that the Centre should set deadlines to report on its progress.
Facts about Tswelopele Correctional Centre
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Located about 5km west of Kimberleyâs Big Hole
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Can hold 3,021 prisoners
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As of October 2016 had 2,574 prisoners
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186 serving life-sentences, all of whom are classified medium risk
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321 prisoners are on antiretroviral treatment for HIV.
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Between 420 and 450 staff, but it is supposed to have 600, including about 390 security staff, 14 nurses, nine social workers, 21 teachers, a psychologist and a doctor
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Consists of three blocks with four units each (i.e.12 units), each with a gym and small yard
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Has a hospital, as well as a bakery that produces bread for Kimberley
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Letters
Dear Editor
South African Prisoners Organization for Human Rights (SAPOHR) once again welcomes the findings of constitutional court Judge E. Cameron and about damning human rights violations at a prison that should have been a New Generation prison.
These findings reiterate his earlier findings that confirmed a United Nations reports late last year (2016) about human rights atrocities that were and still remain the order of the day in Pollsmoor Prison. Human rights abuses of inmates from Cape Town to Mpumalanga (Barberton Prison) often goes unnoticed and unreported. It is and remains the belly of the beast.
Prisons the world around should not be in the business of punishment and torture. Imprisonment is punishment enough.
âIn Prison, an individual is subject to isolation, confinement in a control unit, violent, torture, gangsterism, gang rape, guard brutality, organized black and white supremacy and life of boredom and useless toil."
No wonder when a person ends up in prison, one comes out hardened, daring and violent. A perfect example was the hijacking of the Deputy Minister of Correctional Services & Justice, Thabang Makhwetla, by repeat, habitual and dangerous offenders, some who are out on bail.
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