City Press || 26 May 2013

11

News

Prison isolates inmates

Management at Free State prison might be flouting laws
RUTH HOPKINS
news@citypress.co.za

Four years in solitary

On November 25 2005, Oupa Mabalane started what would be four years in solitary confinement. Sunlight filtered through a single, tiny window in his dark cell. He was told by prison management that the isolation was for his own safety he was apparently at risk of becoming a victim of gang violence, a legitimate reason for placing a prisoner in a single cell. But the isolation dragged on. Mabalane spent 23 hours each day in his cell, had barely any contact with other inmates and was not allowed to access newspapers or television. He was not allowed to take part in any rehabilitation programmes. The isolation drove me insane. I was in constant mental pain and I tried to commit suicide with a razor blade in 2009. Still, he remained in his single cell. Mabalane set fire to his cell and started holding prison staff hostage. He was transferred to Kokstad Prison on November 6 2009, to a shared cell. But then he was sent back to Mangaung Prison in March this year, and had been immediately placed in solitary confinement again. I was detained in a single cell again for 30 days, he said. Ishmael Mohlomi was detained in a single cell from November 22 2012 to April 22 this year. Joseph Monaise was placed in isolation for what was supposed to be seven days because of his involvement in a hostage drama at the prison last November. But, he said: They assured me they would detain me in that cell for two years. He threatened to burn his cell and demanded an explanation from prison management. But he says none has been offered and he has been in isolation since November 7. According to the prisons controller, Clement Motsapi, the three had not been segregated. Instead, he said, theyd been placed under high care. High care is subject to the same legal restrictions as solitary confinement. Ruth Hopkins

He who opens a school door, closes a prison

French poet Victor Hugo (18021885)

the isolation period. From the 2009 report, it appears that Mangaung Prisons management has ignored these requirements. Inmates at Bloemfonteins According to Koos Gerber, the Mangaung Prison are being spokesperson for the correctional kept in solitary confinement for services department, heads of up to four years at a time. correctional centres are obliged But the prisons management to comply with these prescripts refuses to explain itself to and where it is not done it the Judicial Inspectorate for would, in essence, be wrong . Correctional Services, an Mangaung Prison is run by office within the correctional British security firm G4S, after services department run by the it signed a contract with inspecting judge and tasked government in 2000 to build with monitoring conditions in and manage the facility. The South Africas prisons. prison opened in 2001 and And now the inspectorate has houses about 3 000 inmates. written to it, demanding answers On April 25 this year, about this illegal practice. the inspectorate contacted A confidential 2009 the prisons management to ask government report a copy of for more information about the which City Press has seen lists inmates who were segregated 62 cases of inmates in 2009. at the prison who By law, prisons were detained in are obliged to single cells without provide this privileges, for information to the periods ranging inspectorate. But from two weeks G4S responded to four years. abruptly, saying: cases of inmates at the The report also A . . . concern is that prison who were detained reveals that two these requests are in single cells without inmates were mostly signed privileges, for periods ranging by administrative denied TB and HIV from two weeks to four years personnel, which medication while in solitary raises the question if confinement. the inspecting judge On a recent visit is aware or in need to the prison, City of the information. Press discovered This further the practice is still raised the concern continuing (see of who is really top right). requesting the Longterm information and for solitary what purposes the confinement is information is an unpleasant requested for. echo of the past, The reply when political infuriated the prisoners were inspectorate, whose regularly detained national manager in single cells for of legal services, years at a time. Umesh Raga, PAC leader Robert responded in a Sobukwe was second letter, in detained in a which he wrote: solitary cell on We are indeed Robben Island for flummoxed by such nine years. aspersions on the Today, integrity of our staff segregating and our mandate. KOOS GERBER inmates remains a The prisons common measure controller, Clement in South Africas prisons but it Motsapi, is employed and is not allowed as a punishment. instructed by the correctional Instead, it can services department. It is be imposed if the prisoner his job to monitor whether the requests it or a medical condition prison complies with rules and means isolation is necessary. regulations regarding detention. A prisoner can also be kept Inmates say it was Motsapi alone in a single cell if they are who approved their placement in considered an escape risk, are isolation. When questioned by perceived to be a threat to other the inspectorate the prisons inmates or it is believed they will management said this was not be the targets of violence in a segregation but high care . shared cell. But, according to the law, The segregation must be the inspecting judge as well reported to the authorities as the departments national if it lasts longer than seven commissioner must be notified days, and inmates in solitary of such decisions. confinement must be visited by a medical practitioner or Hopkins is a member of the Wits psychologist every day during Justice Project

62

Introducing the next generation of mobile communications.

Now Telkom Mobile gives you: Superfast LTE network for faster data downloads. 2G/3G national coverage for improved voice clarity. More Wi-Fi hotspots countrywide.

Heads of correctional centres are obliged to comply with these prescripts

................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................. .................................................................................................................................................

Love on the (train) line in Prague

The Czech capital Prague has taken speed dating to an entirely new level the city is introducing dating cars on the the countrys only metro system. Starting later this year, select carriages on each of Pragues three underground train lines will be designated singles friendly, the German Spiegel Online reported this week. The average trip time on the Prague metro is five minutes, the website reported, so it will take considerable charm and excellent snap judgement for commuters in need of romance to find a prospective partner. Filip Drapal, a spokesperson for the citys public transport authority, told Spiegel Online the plan was designed to show people what activities you can do on public transport that you cannot do inside your car (like reading, studying, listening to music, playing egames and checking emails). He further said: Simultaneously, we realise there is a negative trend of more and more people being single or not married. So we would like to help these people and generally draw attention to this social phenomenon as well. Staff reporter

62319/2/E/R

081 180 I telkommobile.co.za