Fire fighters and police were called to the East London Maximum Security Prison late on Tuesday evening after inmates started a fire inside the facility.
Eastern Cape Correctional Services acting commissioner Noziphiwo Dumbela said a “few” inmates set their blankets on fire and threw them into the corridors of the facility through their cell doors.
Dumbela said a report on the extent of the damages to the West Bank prison will be made after an assessment on Wednesday. “It is nothing major, no injuries were reported. Firefighters and police are at the scene,” said Dumbela on Tuesday evening.
The fire comes after inmates embarked on a hunger strike on Monday over what they said were violations of their human rights. Inmates complained in a November 7 petition, saying that prison conditions were not conducive to their rehabilitation.
Correctional Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said: “It is disturbing that inmates opted to embark on such chaotic behaviour in spite of a commitment by our officials to attend to their grievances.”
Nxumalo said the management of the East London Correctional facility had a meeting with inmates where there was a “frank” discussion on the issues submitted for consideration.
Nxumalo said his department even went further to indicate that it will investigate some of the allegations raised by inmates.
“It is thus confusing why will inmates opt to cause chaos by burning blankets. This type of behaviour can never be tolerated by the Department of Correctional Services and those behind it will be dealt with accordingly.”..