KEY POINTS
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Three convicted inmates have gone missing from Pollsmoor Prison, prompting demands for accountability from the DA.
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Pollsmoor is plagued by severe overcrowding and deteriorating infrastructure, compromising inmate welfare and security.
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The DA urges immediate reforms, including virtual hearings and infrastructure upgrades, to address systemic issues within the correctional system.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has intensified scrutiny on Correctional Services Minister Dr. Pieter Groenewald following revelations that three convicted inmates, including individuals found guilty of rape and murder, have gone missing from Pollsmoor Maximum Security Prison.
Sowetanlive reports that the incident has raised serious concerns about administrative lapses and the overall state of South Africa’s correctional facilities.
DA Member of Parliament Nicholas Gotsell, serving on the National Council of Provinces’ security and justice committee, highlighted that the three inmates were initially detained at the Horizon Child and Youth Centre due to their age. Following a violent assault on a staff member in July 2024, they were transferred to Pollsmoor Juvenile Centre.
Despite being sentenced prisoners, they were later transported to the Blue Downs Magistrate’s Court on new assault charges. Legally, they were remand detainees for that purpose only, but as sentenced prisoners, they should have been returned to Pollsmoor thereafter. Instead, they vanished.
Overcrowding and infrastructure decay plague Pollsmoor Prison
Recent oversight visits by parliamentary committees have unveiled alarming conditions within Pollsmoor Prison. Reports indicate that the facility is operating at over 174% capacity, with cells designed for 30 inmates housing up to 80 individuals.
Detainees are forced to share beds or sleep on the floor without mattresses, and access to basic sanitation is severely limited. One detainee described the conditions as “always hot and claustrophobic,” noting that it “feels like there is not enough air in the cell to breathe.”
The prison’s infrastructure is in a state of disrepair, with leaking roofs, flooded corridors, and non-functional kitchen appliances. Contraband smuggling is rampant, facilitated by corrupt officials who transport cellphones and other prohibited items into the prison after court visits.
The DA has called for urgent reforms, including the fast-tracking of virtual hearings to reduce the number of remand detainees and alleviate overcrowding. They also demand a comprehensive plan from the Department of Correctional Services to address the dire conditions and prevent further administrative failures.
