Popcru 'tug of war'
2003-04-10 20:58
Johannesburg - Correctional services Gauteng commissioner, Zacharia Modise, claimed before the Jali commission on Thursday that he had been harassed by the Prison and Police Civil Rights Union (Popcru) throughout his career.
He said in 1994, while at the Kimberley prison in the Northern Cape, then prison head Charles Hopley had been wary of the union.
"At that time we had serious problems in the prison with prisoners rioting because of voting rights," Modise said.
He claimed that Popcru vice-president Simon Oupa Monyobo and fellow union members failed to assist in controlling riotous prisoners. They stood under trees outside the prison and held "discussions".
Modise said on one occasion he was assaulted by prisoners and his fellow warders had to intervene to help him. Force was used and prisoners were injured. Monyobo urged the prisoners to lay assault charges against the warders, who were subsequently cleared.
Modise said when he was appointed the Northern Cape correctional services commissioner in 1997 the "tug of war" between himself and Popcru continued. Monyobo and a colleague, David McThomas, drew up a memorandum complaining about Modise's appointment. The memo was sent to the commissioner of correctional services, the minister as well as then president Nelson Mandela.
In 1999 Modise was appointed provincial commissioner in the Eastern Cape, after the previous commissioner Lunga Tseana was "banned" by Popcru.
He said Tseana was threatened by Popcru members and told that she should leave the Eastern Cape never to return. She was transferred to the North West province within a matter of days.
Modise said after he ordered an investigation against a prominent Popcru member in the Eastern Cape, a delegation of shop stewards visited him and told him to "toe the line".
Modise testified that Popcru had originally been formed as the voice of black people in the police, correctional services and traffic departments. At the moment certain elements within the union were causing havoc.
In Gauteng, authorities were experiencing problems in the East Rand and Krugersdorp on the West Rand.
Several officials had already been taken hostage at East Rand prisons by union members, while striking union members at Krugersdorp had threatened to free all the prisoners.
The Jali commission, which is investigating corruption in prisons countrywide, began its public hearings in Gauteng on Wednesday. Appointed by President Thabo Mbeki, the commission has already held hearings in Bloemfontein, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town.
- SAPA