Inmates share grim pictures of life in Kgosi Mampuru prison
Inmates inside the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Facility in Pretoria have described conditions as inhumane, dangerous and a health hazard.
Photos and videos shared from within the prison’s cells by several inmates show evidence of these poor conditions. Inmates claim they are constantly sick because of their damp living conditions and daily exposure to mold.
In 2019 the Department of Correctional Services spent R150-million on upgrades to other parts of the prison. But the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services says it alerted Parliament as recently as last month to the worrying conditions at among others, the Kgosi Mampuru prison, describing it as a grave concern.
The department denied the photos and videos were from the prison but did concede that conditions in one cell were “disturbing”.
(Thumbnail image of prison cell taken by Ye Jinghan and used under Unsplash license.)
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Letters
Dear Editor
My husband is currently has been detained in Section D since late January 2022. By 2 February he was being told to pay a "bribe" of R500 to sleep on a bed – the next morning this went up to R800. Yes, I reported it and the people were apparently removed. At the same time, families are not allowed to bring anything for the detainees like toiletries. I thus paid R200 into the prison account but by 9 February 2022 he had still not received his funds and has thus not been able to wash or clean himself.
When he appeared at the prison court, he was covered in some sort of insect bite marks. This was horrible to see. All other inmates that appeared in the same court did not have these types of bite marks and it is concerning what the actual conditions are inside the prison.
I beg you to expose these corrupt people running inhumane conditions for accused detainees, not even any animal should live like that let alone a human being.
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