Inmates complain about treatment at Paxton Prison
“Offenders have channels internally available to them to register their complaints and requests can be made daily to their unit managers.”
Inmates of Paxton Prison alleged that they are not being treated fairly by the Department of Correctional Services.
A memorandum, signed by all the inmates was handed over to the relevant authorities and checked by the Department of Correctional Services and the South African Prisoners’ Organisation for Human Rights (Saphor).
The inmates in the memorandum claimed that an inmate died because he allegedly did not have an asthma inhaler.
They said that when someone has pain they are provided with two aspirins to help deal with the pain. According to the inmates, some of them just die in their cells.
They furthermore claim that they manufacture the orange uniforms and do not receive any; they are not being assisted when applying to the parole board, and there is no skills development, no reform, or a system in place for study options for inmates with long sentences.
Paxton Prison’s spokesperson, Ms Thabile Mahlangu replied in a press release saying, “Offenders have channels internally available to them to register their complaints and requests can be made daily to their unit managers.
The complaints and request register (G365), was checked, but these complaints have not been registered by any of the offenders in the units. The procedure is that the matter must first be reported to the unit manager, then to HCC, then to the Area Commissioner, and Regional Office. National Head Office will intervene, should the matter not be resolved by the Regional Office. In this case, none of the available platforms was utilised.”
Thabile said that the hospital section must ensure the livelihoods of the offenders and must control the number of tablets being issued, “because offenders smoke or sell the tablets.”
Regarding education, Thabile said that there is an in-house school and offenders have the option to work in agriculture, maintenance, or study at the in-house school.
“Management is always ready and available to assist offenders however, they cannot do anything if offenders do not come forward with their complaints,” Thabile concluded.
The inmates stated that if no feedback is given or no attempts for change are being made, they will go on a hunger strike.
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