Correctional Services and Justice Minister Michael Masutha yesterday said the inadequate infrastructure and staff shortage which had resulted in the escape of four dangerous criminals at the Mdantsane Prison, would not be addressed anytime soon.
He said this was because a “significant amount” of his department’s budget went towards fixing the damages caused by students during the #FeesMustFall campaign.
He was addressing the media after inspecting the facility in NU12.
“In reality, we won’t be able to fix the challenges in all the prisons due to the budget cuts,” he said.
“All the government departments sacrificed huge portions of their budgets towards the #FeesMustFall.
“In my department I was forced to cut internship programmes by half.”
Masutha said with their current budget, the department could only replace locks at the Mdantsane prison by next week.
“That we can do but in terms of the big infrastructure like the prison fence and dysfunctional alarm system, that would take some time unfortunately. It requires big budget.”
Masutha said a lot of work and expenses would be involved including advertising tenders. Masutha said during the inspections and evaluation, he had identified prison guards who needed re-training and also the need to hire more guards.
“That requires a big budget.”
Meanwhile, police union Popcru has launched a scathing attack on provincial Correctional Services commissioner Nkosinathi Breakfast accusing him of “peddling lies” after he blamed prison guards for Wednesday’s escape.
The Police Prison and Civil Rights Union said in a statement, the escape happened as a result of Breakfast’s “incompetence” after failing to act on the union’s grievances about a dysfunctional security system, overcrowded cells, few prison guards, the lack of a dining area and broken doors.
On Wednesday night, following the daring escape of four dangerous prisoners, Breakfast told the Dispatch that prison guards broke three rules that day by:
l Feeding dangerous prisoners in the passage instead of in their locked cells;
l Allowing them to eat alone unsupervised in the passage; and
l Failing to check all the doors and give a structural integrity report. Popcru provincial secretary Zamikhaya Skade said: “It is always a norm for management to shield their failures by blaming our members.”
In the statement Skade blasted Breakfast.
“Firstly, the prisoners that escaped are classified as maximum prisoners, yet management placed them at Mdantsane prison which is classified as a medium facility.
“Secondly, Breakfast accuses guards of feeding prisoners in the passage yet he does not tell the public this has been an outcry from the guards as that section has no dining hall.
“Thirdly, Breakfast says there are 27 prisoners in that unit. That is what the unit is designed for but in reality it houses more than150 prisoners.
“The 150 prisoners are guarded by five wardens at a given shift and when prisoners have to be escorted to court only two members remain behind,” he said.
The 3m high wall that the prisoners jumped over is an ordinary wall with no security fencing on top, he said.
Skade alleged that Popcru held a meeting with Breakfast and his team on November 14 about the issues.
Breakfast denied Popcru’s allegations, saying while there was a shortage of staff, had the wardens kept the offenders in their cells, Lihle Zikholisile, 19, of Mthatha, Norman Mukunuwendo, 22, of Zimbabwe, Phikolomzi Sonakele, 23, of Mqanduli and Sandile Vena, 22, of King William’s Town, would not have escaped.
They are still on the run.
No money to fix unsecure prison: Scary report back by minister following escapes
He said this was because a “significant amount” of his department’s budget went towards fixing the damages caused by students during the #FeesMustFall campaign.
He was addressing the media after inspecting the facility in NU12.
“In reality, we won’t be able to fix the challenges in all the prisons due to the budget cuts,” he said.
“All the government departments sacrificed huge portions of their budgets towards the #FeesMustFall.
“In my department I was forced to cut internship programmes by half.”
Masutha said with their current budget, the department could only replace locks at the Mdantsane prison by next week.
“That we can do but in terms of the big infrastructure like the prison fence and dysfunctional alarm system, that would take some time unfortunately. It requires big budget.”
Masutha said a lot of work and expenses would be involved including advertising tenders. Masutha said during the inspections and evaluation, he had identified prison guards who needed re-training and also the need to hire more guards.
“That requires a big budget.”
Meanwhile, police union Popcru has launched a scathing attack on provincial Correctional Services commissioner Nkosinathi Breakfast accusing him of “peddling lies” after he blamed prison guards for Wednesday’s escape.
The Police Prison and Civil Rights Union said in a statement, the escape happened as a result of Breakfast’s “incompetence” after failing to act on the union’s grievances about a dysfunctional security system, overcrowded cells, few prison guards, the lack of a dining area and broken doors.
On Wednesday night, following the daring escape of four dangerous prisoners, Breakfast told the Dispatch that prison guards broke three rules that day by:
l Feeding dangerous prisoners in the passage instead of in their locked cells;
l Allowing them to eat alone unsupervised in the passage; and
l Failing to check all the doors and give a structural integrity report. Popcru provincial secretary Zamikhaya Skade said: “It is always a norm for management to shield their failures by blaming our members.”
In the statement Skade blasted Breakfast.
“Firstly, the prisoners that escaped are classified as maximum prisoners, yet management placed them at Mdantsane prison which is classified as a medium facility.
“Secondly, Breakfast accuses guards of feeding prisoners in the passage yet he does not tell the public this has been an outcry from the guards as that section has no dining hall.
“Thirdly, Breakfast says there are 27 prisoners in that unit. That is what the unit is designed for but in reality it houses more than150 prisoners.
“The 150 prisoners are guarded by five wardens at a given shift and when prisoners have to be escorted to court only two members remain behind,” he said.
The 3m high wall that the prisoners jumped over is an ordinary wall with no security fencing on top, he said.
Skade alleged that Popcru held a meeting with Breakfast and his team on November 14 about the issues.
Breakfast denied Popcru’s allegations, saying while there was a shortage of staff, had the wardens kept the offenders in their cells, Lihle Zikholisile, 19, of Mthatha, Norman Mukunuwendo, 22, of Zimbabwe, Phikolomzi Sonakele, 23, of Mqanduli and Sandile Vena, 22, of King William’s Town, would not have escaped.
They are still on the run.
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