DispatchLive reports that only 15 prison warders were on duty at St Albans Correctional Centre to guard 674 inmates on the day three convicts were killed in a riot.  

This meant each warder armed with a baton had to control 45 hardened criminals.  The deaths happened on 27 December 2016 when a gang of prisoners tried to take control of the Port Elizabeth prison.  Nineteen people, including five warders, were also injured.  Had there been sufficient security personnel on duty, the loss of lives might have been avoided.  It has been said that the current shift system was not assisting security, as many of the inmates know when there’s going to be a small number of staff on duty.  A source also said staff shortages were exacerbated by warders constantly taking sick leave or at times having to accompany inmates to courts.  Provincial commissioner Nkosinathi Breakfast said:  “We are reviewing the shift pattern of our members, but there are issues with the unions we are dealing with first.”

• Read this report by Bongani Fuzile in full at DispatchLive
• See too, St Albans' lockdown gradually being lifted, at News24
• And also, 'Hunger strike at St Albans all but over', at EWN

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page