The Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services conducted an oversight visit to the Brandvlei Correctional Centre yesterday, where it received a briefing from the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) on its plans to restore and upgrade the telephone communication systems in all correctional facilities to allow inmates to keep in contact with their families.
The DCS told the committee that it currently relies on legacy fixed-line telephone services across all facilities, including its head office, six regional offices, 46 management areas, 243 correctional centres and 218 community corrections offices.
The department also told the committee that Telkom’s phasing out of copper infrastructure has resulted to a decline in the availability of service, leading to more frequent outages. This has placed several facilities at risk of losing telephone services entirely and impacts on the inmates, who are unable to stay in touch with their families.
The committee heard that of the 2 050 inmate telephones installed across correctional facilities, only 388 (18.9%) are operational, while 1 662 (81.1%) are non-functional, highlighting a significant service availability gap that requires urgent intervention. To address these challenges, the DCS said it will be advertising a bid to appoint a service provider to provide an inmate communication system.
During engagement, the committee welcomed the briefings it received and commended the department and the Brandvlei Correctional Centre management for, among other things, the cleanliness of the centre, no escapes, nor unnatural deaths, and for meaningful improvements in full-time education in the centre and the bakery.
The committee told the department that inmates have a constitutional right to telephone communication with their families. The department must provide a strong and reliable telephone communication system for them to do so, while a longer-term arrangement is sought.
The committee highlighted various other problems it noted during its walkabout of the centre. These included staff shortages, overcrowding, smuggling of contraband, health and safety concerns, security risk affecting both inmates and officials, and non-functioning equipment at the kitchen.
Juvenile inmates complained about the failure to provide them with shoes and jerseys. The correctional centre management told the committee of plans to provide uniforms for inmates and committed to providing the items of clothing that are needed, including shoes and the jerseys. On the challenge of water shortages in the facility, the centre management said the Department of Water and Sanitation is currently addressing this challenges.
The Chairperson of the committee, Ms Kgomotso Anthea Ramolobeng, expressed the committee’s appreciation to the DCS and the Brandvlei Correctional Centre management for the general good state of the centre, after the committee visited the centre at short notice. The committee also commended the centre for initiatives aimed at promoting self-sufficiency and sustainability.
After hearing reports that the centre management had discouraged inmates from communicating their grievances to the committee, Ms Ramolobeng reminded management that inmates are allowed to express their views on their frustrations. “Refrain from intimidating inmates against exercising their right to express themselves to the committee. They must be let free to enjoy their constitutional rights. What you must do is to keep them busy,” said Ms Ramolobeng. She said the committee will return for further engagement with the department on the committee’s recommendations for the Western Cape
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