Jhb prison 'ticking time bomb'
2009-08-22 14:11
Johannesburg - Inmates at Johannesburg Prison have threatened to burn down the facility after another go slow by warders on Saturday, a prisoners' rights organisation claimed on Saturday.
"Johannesburg Prison is a ticking time bomb, prisoners have threatened to burn the facility down," Golden Miles Bhudu, SA Prisoners' Organisation for Human Rights president said.
He said that prisoners did not receive their breakfast on Saturday morning and were told by warders that they were not allowed visits by relatives.
"They need to see their loved ones and their loved ones need to see them. They look forward to the weekends because of their visits from relatives... this will make them very upset."
Bhudu said the warders were on a go slow in solidarity of 88 correctional officers who were suspended on Friday.
They were suspended following industrial action over the slow implementation of the occupation specific dispensation (OSD).
"The correctional services department want to give an impression that everything is back to normal. But it is not," Bhudu said.
Correction services spokesperson Manelisi Wolela said: "I am not aware of another go slow."
The area commissioner was not immediately available for comment.
- SAPA
