More than 400 Eastern Cape prisoners positive for Covid-19

Just more than 400 prison inmates in the Eastern Cape have tested positive for Covid-19.

The province has the biggest share of positive inmates in the country, the department of correctional services confirmed on Monday.

Spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said nationally, the number of positive inmates stood at 473. The number of infected officials is  246.

“Total confirmed Covid-19 cases in the department is 719,” he said.

Nxumalo said three inmates had died in the Eastern Cape, the latest being a 50-year-old East London prisoner who succumbed to the virus on May 20.

In the Eastern Cape, of 413 inmates and 76 officials who have tested positive, there have been  72 recoveries.

Early in the month, correctional services minister Ronald Lamola said 19,000 inmates were likely to be released on parole from jails across the country  to ease the current overcrowding of prisons. Those who met the requirements, which would be determined by the parole board, would be released.

Eastern Cape prisons have the highest prevalence of overcrowding in the country, registering a percentage of 54,88%.

A voicenote from an East London prison is doing the rounds on social media where an inmate describes how they are “breathing on each other's faces” because of overcrowding.

The inmate claims the number of positive inmates is at 800, something the department has dismissed.

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