Inmates at an Eastern Cape prison have demanded a bigger variety and increase in food portions, longer visiting hours, better study opportunities and resources and improved medical care.
The West Bank maximum prison inmates in East London believe a shortage of laptops is making it difficult for them to rehabilitate.
They want authorities to do away with steel cutlery and replace it with plastic spoons.
Inmates also demanded that four warders be fired, claiming they deprived them of their right to equality, education, human dignity and a right to a good environment.
The demands were contained in a memorandum, written by inmate Phumezo Phantsi, to prison management.
It was alleged that some offenders are boycotting meals due to poor quality of food, untidy cooks and poor condition of the dining hall. They also raised issue with the visiting system.
“Sometimes some of our visitors don’t meet us due to short time allocated for visitors, as the visiting time stops around 2pm. We therefore request that the visits be extended to 4pm since some visitors come as far as Transkei,” he wrote.
“We also demand that sealed items such as tobacco be allowed, including USB and long white T-shirts.”
Inmates also demanded better education. “So far the prison has failed to deliver adequate resources along with necessary skills required. Presently the centre offers very few skills, like sewing and brick-laying. The necessary required skills in labour force are not provided, including mechanics, carpentry, welding, plumbing and electricity.”
The inmates claimed that the hospital had a shortage of medicine and complained of a slow response to crisis. They are also protesting the poor quality of prison uniforms.
“The quality of shoes and toothbrush distributed are not of proper quality. Mattresses and clothing must be given to inmates as soon as they arrive,” the detailed list of demands read.
However, department of correctional services provincial spokesperson Vuyo Gadu said the allegations were unfounded.
“Offender rations are issued out in line with the 12 days meal cycle approved by the department.
“Daily meals include a portion of starch, two vegetables and proteins and the weight is in line with ration scale.
“All correctional facilities are utilising the 2017-2018 revised offender ration nationally.” She said visiting hours were in line with the department’s privilege system, with some inmates receiving an hour’s visit, while some were granted a 45-minute visit between 9am and 3pm.
“There is a library with books for reference purposes and leisure reading. Then for registered learners at the school in centre, prescribed textbooks are available for each learner.
“From 2012 the centre received a donation of 15 laptops that have been used by learners and out of those only five currently are in a working condition,” Gadu said.
She said inmates who were furthering their studies were allowed to make an application to utilise their own laptops for the duration of their studies.
“The utilisation of such laptops is monitored and the moment that one finalises his studies it’s taken away.”
She dismissed claims treatment to inmates.
“The centre has a medical unit staffed with qualified nurses. There is an appointed seasonal doctor that attends to all offenders that are referred by nurses.”
Gadu said public phones were vandalised by inmates, adding that it was departmental policy to use steel cutlery. of unfair medical..