Little Xmas cheer for convicts
2000-12-19 22:10
Marietie Louw & Borrie la Grange
Patients in Pretoria's Jacaranda Hospital can expect mouthwatering meals
this Christmas while prisoners will have little reason for Christmas cheer.
The breakfast menu for patients consists of croissants with cold meat and
cheese, fried mushrooms, eggs and bacon with fresh fruit and juice.
For lunch, Chicken Kiev with cheese sauce or baked kingklip or grilled
steak, peas, baby carrots and roast potatoes are on the menu with Christmas
pudding and brandy sauce and fruit salad for dessert.
At supper time various cold meats, tuna, potato and Greek salads, bread
rolls and chocolate mousse will be served. Wine will also be available for
those who may have it.
The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has no special Christmas lunch
or extended visiting hours for prisoners. They may spend a little more on
sweets and cigarettes in the prison tuckshops, said Rudi Potgieter,
spokesperson for the DCS in Pretoria.
He said the DCS never budgets for special holidays like Christmas. If the
area commissioner grants permission, suppliers may donate extra vegetables
and fruit.
No special Christmas programmes are offered but the recreation committes
arrange sports like cricket and volleyball.
Potgieter said visiting hours during Christmas are not lengthened because of
limited visitors' facilities. Prisoners, however, make their own Christmas
decorations to create a more cheerful ambience.