Youths protest smoke ruling
2006-02-01 16:17
Cape Town - Juveniles in Cape Town's Pollsmoor prison awaiting trial barricaded themselves into their cells on Wednesday to protest a clampdown on smoking.
Western Cape correctional services spokesperson Mark Solomons said the prison management declared about a week and a half ago that smoking would not be allowed in two sections of the Medium A prison housing youngsters aged 14 to 17.
Some of the youths decided they were not satisfied with this, and on Wednesday morning barricaded the doors of their cells, he said.
Representatives of the area manager's office had, however, explained to them that the law did not allow children under 18 to buy cigarettes.
"This is definitely something we won't budge on," Solomons said.
"After that they removed the barricades and went back to the normal routine of the day."
Just under 100 youths were involved.
There was a slight delay in getting to court those scheduled to appear on Wednesday.
- SAPA