Pollsmoor infestation: DA requests urgent sitting of Correctional Services Committee
22 September 2015
The DA will today write to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services, Mathole Motshekga, to request that he convene an urgent meeting for the Committee to be briefed on the deaths, from leptospirosis, of two inmates in the Pollsmoor Remand Detention Facility and on what steps the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) is taking to contain and eradicate the problem (see Weekend Argus report).
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease which is spread through the excretions of infected animals, apparently including rats.
It is bad enough that the facility is infested with rats. The problem is compounded by the much-publicised over-crowding of Pollsmoor and the dire living conditions of prisoners, including long periods of lock down, little or no exercise for prisoners and a general condition of filth in the prison.
The situation in Pollsmoor was recently highlighted by a report produced by Constitutional Court Justice, Edwin Cameron. Weekend newspaper reports confirmed that almost 4000 inmates were to be transferred to other prisons due to the outbreak of leptospirosis as a result of a rat infestation in a prison that is capacitated to house 4000 but is currently home to 8000 prisoners.
Justice Cameron stated that he is “deeply shocked [at the] extent of over-crowding, unsanitary conditions, sickness, emaciated physical appearance of detainees and the overall living conditions were profoundly disturbing.”
Findings in the Cameron Report document the wholly inhumane conditions these prisoners, much like prisoners across the country, have to endure every day. These conditions are in contravention of the Constitution and the Correctional Services Act. Amongst his findings were the following:
1. “Inadequate cleaning supplies. They lack access to any cleaning supplies. This, coupled with extreme overcrowding, inevitably leads to filthy living conditions.”
2. “Assaults by correctional staff. Some detainees stated they had been assaulted by correctional staff. One interviewee said he was given the “beating of a life time” by one of the Pollsmoor correctional staff.”
3. “No exercise. Several detainees told us they have not been let out of their cell to exercise for three to four weeks. One detainee even claimed, ‘I’ve been in this room for two years. It’s not right.’”
4. “Plumbing problems. Interviewees reported major plumbing problems. The shower will not drain. It is so problematic detainees are restricted from taking showers. Often, the shower drain is completely blocked.”
5. “No hot water. There was no hot water in the cell. I confirmed this by testing the shower and sink.”
6. “Medical neglect. Several interviewees complained of injuries and infections they have sustained that the medical staff have neglected. Detainees pointed out visible injuries and infections to us. They claimed their ailments have not been attended to because they are not allowed adequate chance to see a doctor.”
7. “Filthy germ- and lice-infested blankets. Detainees told us their blankets were dirty on arrival, and that they have never been changed. They complained the blankets were spreading infections.”
8. “Not enough food. Many complained of inadequate quantity and quality of meals. The last meal is in the early afternoon between 13h00 and 14h00. They complained about hunger at night since they are not given anything till breakfast. This approximately 18 hrs without food … would be against section 8(5) of the Correctional Services Act which mandates that the maximum time an inmate is allowed to go without food.”
The DA asserts that the Committee should summon the Head of the Remand Detention Branch, Britta Rotmann, to answer the following:
- What led to such poor living conditions at Pollsmoor and other correctional facilities;
- Who was the contract for regular pest control awarded to, if anyone;
- Are these filthy living conditions and high levels of ill-health prevalent in other facilities like Westville Prison in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), St Albans in Port Elizabeth (PE) and Johannesburg; and
- What will be done to contain this outbreak.
The Committee should also summon the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) to brief it on the progress and outcome of its investigation.
The Committee must similarly interrogate the Cameron Report and ensure that its remedial actions are considered fully.
It is clear that the Department of Correctional Services has battled to arrest the decline of our correctional facilities, particularly remand facilities. It is now for Parliament to urgently step in and table a plan to repair a broken corrections system that is fast eroding the inalienable human rights deeply entrenched in our Constitution which must be applied to all human beings, including prisoners.
The DA will, throughout the course of this month, be conducting a series of visits to determine whether this situation has affected any of our other correctional facilities and will report back to Parliament.
Prisoners’ lives matter.
Statement issued by James Selfe MP, DA Shadow Minister of Correctional Services, September 22 2015
