Leeuwkop conducts mass screening
FOURWAYS – During the testing and screening process, over 4 000 inmates and 754 officials were screened.
Over 3 000 prisoners and over 700 officials were screened for Covid-19 (and tested if necessary) between 18 and 22 May at Leeuwkop Correctional Services.
Acting area commissioner at Leeuwkop Correctional Services, Mokhemi Molefe, spoke to the Fourways Review during a visit to the testing centre at the facility on 18 May. He said, “Today we are having mass screening and testing by the Department of Health. So far, 29 offenders have been tested and the screening is continuing from today [18 May] until Friday.”
On 18 May, one official and no offenders had tested positive for the virus. Molefe explained the official who tested positive was isolated since 29 April.He discussed the procedure that would be followed if an inmate tests positive, saying that the person would be isolated in a quarantine unit.
A total of 4 517 inmates were screened, 1 164 inmates were tested. A total of 754 officials were screened and 119 were tested.
Operational health care manager for the management area, Gloria Mashiyane, said a vacant quarantine site had been identified at the prison, allowing for inmates testing positive across the district to be quarantined there.
Mashiyane added that officials are screened daily before they enter their respective work places.Head of corporate services, Bafana Mashego, said, “I am happy with the cooperation from the officials. It shows we are all concerned and do want to know our status. We should encourage more screening and testing, even outside our working environment.
“The gospel truth of wearing masks, washing hands regularly, maintaining social distance as well as maintaining a high degree of hygiene must be preached even at our respective homes.”
Mashego added, “We cannot be ignorant about Covid-19 anymore. We must encourage testing continuously and support those whose results come back positive… Together we can defeat this virus.”
The Fourways Review also spoke to inmate Bafana Nkomo, who has served 19 years at the facility.He expressed his concern that the virus could spread in the prison.
He said, “I am worried because people are going to be quarantined here.”
Nkomo added, “The officials didn’t consult us about this. We are worried that we will catch this virus.”
He said that he lives in a cell with 59 other inmates, where, according to him, no social distancing is practiced. He claimed that this was the third time he has been screened for the virus.
Molefe said, “With regard to social distancing within the correctional centres, it is difficult to maintain social distancing within the units or cells due to overcrowding but there are areas, like where meals are being served, that has been marked according to the social distancing protocol of one to two metres.”
