An Eastern Cape maximum security prison, which is home to some of the province’s most hardened criminals, has a defective security system with its perimeter electric fence not working and guards having to use bricks to keep gates closed.
To make matters worse, East London’s Fort Glamorgan prison’s “state-of the-art” CCTV cameras and security lights are also defective.
An official on duty said they were using padlocks and chains to lock the main gates.
“Even at the maximum security centre we are using the same padlocks and chains to lock the inmates. There’s no central control yet we have serious offenders who are locked in here.
“We have inmates who are awaiting trial who have never been locked in jail.
“Just late last year one of them tried to escape and we caught him while he was climbing up the fence. If there was electricity there, he would have died,” said the official.
Department spokesman Zama Feni admitted they faced challen-ges with the prison’s security system and said the national office was “studying” a report on them.
“We can confirm the problems we are facing. They will be fixed but unfortunately I can’t tell which is working or not working as this is a matter of security,” said Feni.
The foiled escape was confirmed by the Department of Correctional Services.
“That inmate was re-arrested. We are doing all we can to make sure the inmates are monitored. Those who are walking free inside the prison have been classified as risk free and have been screened. They are allowed to walk but there’s always a person keeping an eye on them,” said Feni.
This week, the Dispatch team took a tour of the prison and easily gained entry into the supposedly secure prison without any detection.
Dispatch also saw two inmates walking freely past the unlocked security gates near the Medium B prison where most awaiting-trial inmates are held.
Not far from the prison is a West Bank school which children as young as five attend.
The main gates, which are supposed to be controlled by an electronic magnetic system and monitored in control rooms, are no longer working.
A computer in one of the control rooms is gathering dust.
“We used to monitor the fence through this screen but it died a long time ago,” said an official.
Duncan Village Community Policing Forum leader Ludumo Salman said many of the township’s criminals were kept in that prison. “This is the rot we are talking about and the officials need to be investigated for letting this happen.
“It’s a danger to the community and witnesses,” said Salman.
The Dispatch team managed to take pictures and video clips of broken gates, gaping holes, rusting fences, dead CCTV cameras and gates yawning wide open while inmates roamed free inside the prison.
The officials who spoke to the Dispatch said it had been like this for years. “Criminals from outside can get easy access to this prison and supply those inside with drugs.”
The East London prison facility, which also has residences for officials, is fenced with concrete slabs around the boundary.
The Dispatch noticed that the fence has five gaping holes where officials and vagrants walk in and out every day.
Most of the security lights along the fence are not working, with only those near the officials’ residences functioning.
Inside the same yard, there are vegetable garden plots, which are not fenced, where inmates work and tend to the lawns. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
MAXIMUM INSECURITY
To make matters worse, East London’s Fort Glamorgan prison’s “state-of the-art” CCTV cameras and security lights are also defective.
An official on duty said they were using padlocks and chains to lock the main gates.
“Even at the maximum security centre we are using the same padlocks and chains to lock the inmates. There’s no central control yet we have serious offenders who are locked in here.
“We have inmates who are awaiting trial who have never been locked in jail.
“Just late last year one of them tried to escape and we caught him while he was climbing up the fence. If there was electricity there, he would have died,” said the official.
Department spokesman Zama Feni admitted they faced challen-ges with the prison’s security system and said the national office was “studying” a report on them.
“We can confirm the problems we are facing. They will be fixed but unfortunately I can’t tell which is working or not working as this is a matter of security,” said Feni.
The foiled escape was confirmed by the Department of Correctional Services.
“That inmate was re-arrested. We are doing all we can to make sure the inmates are monitored. Those who are walking free inside the prison have been classified as risk free and have been screened. They are allowed to walk but there’s always a person keeping an eye on them,” said Feni.
This week, the Dispatch team took a tour of the prison and easily gained entry into the supposedly secure prison without any detection.
Dispatch also saw two inmates walking freely past the unlocked security gates near the Medium B prison where most awaiting-trial inmates are held.
Not far from the prison is a West Bank school which children as young as five attend.
The main gates, which are supposed to be controlled by an electronic magnetic system and monitored in control rooms, are no longer working.
A computer in one of the control rooms is gathering dust.
“We used to monitor the fence through this screen but it died a long time ago,” said an official.
Duncan Village Community Policing Forum leader Ludumo Salman said many of the township’s criminals were kept in that prison. “This is the rot we are talking about and the officials need to be investigated for letting this happen.
“It’s a danger to the community and witnesses,” said Salman.
The Dispatch team managed to take pictures and video clips of broken gates, gaping holes, rusting fences, dead CCTV cameras and gates yawning wide open while inmates roamed free inside the prison.
The officials who spoke to the Dispatch said it had been like this for years. “Criminals from outside can get easy access to this prison and supply those inside with drugs.”
The East London prison facility, which also has residences for officials, is fenced with concrete slabs around the boundary.
The Dispatch noticed that the fence has five gaping holes where officials and vagrants walk in and out every day.
Most of the security lights along the fence are not working, with only those near the officials’ residences functioning.
Inside the same yard, there are vegetable garden plots, which are not fenced, where inmates work and tend to the lawns. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
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