Call for inquiry into prison riot
2013-01-08 14:36
Video
2013-01-08 14:25
Officials have declared a lockdown at Groenpunt prison in the Free State after prisoners burned down sections of the facility. Watch. WATCH
Johannesburg - A full and independent commission of inquiry
was needed into a riot in which Groenpunt prison in the Free State was set
alight, the DA said on Tuesday.
"It is important that the root causes of the outbreak
of this violence be determined," said Democratic Alliance MP James Selfe.
Prisoners refused to eat, then vandalised the facility in
Deneysville on Monday, setting alight cells and offices and injuring four
warders.
A total of 50 inmates were injured in police attempts to
stop the riot.
Prisoners had complained about the quality of food and about
some prison officials. They wanted a unit head to be fired.
"There needs to be a full and independent inquiry into
the matter to establish why this riot occurred, who were the instigators of the
riot, and whether grievances by inmates were allegedly the precipitate cause of
the riot," said Selfe
Under control
The DA would ask the correctional services department to
present a report on the matter to the portfolio committee when Parliament
resumed.
Earlier, Correctional Services Minister Sibusiso Ndebele
said prison riots would not be tolerated.
"Whilst the department of correctional services is
fully committed to the humane treatment of every detainee, acts of riots by
inmates at correctional centres are not acceptable and will be dealt with
firmly," he said.
Correctional Services acting national commissioner
Nontsikilelo Jolingana said the situation at Groenpunt was under control on
Tuesday.
- SAPA
