Cape Argus reports that after prisoners attacked five correctional service officials with a lock as part of a gang initiation ritual, their union said it was an attack waiting to happen.  

The officers from Pollsmoor Prison have since been discharged from hospital.  Richard Mamabolo, spokesperson for the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru), said they were saddened by yet another “unfortunate and predictable attack” on prison officials and felt that the conditions of employment and safety of their members were compromised on a daily basis.  “The attack was predictable because we are aware of the high rate of overcrowding and understand that Pollsmoor Prison has an understaffing issue.  Most correctional officials have been resigning due to the unresponsive attitude the Department of Correctional Services (DCS),” he said.  Mamabolo added that the prison population was growing on a daily basis and that the ratio between officials and inmates was on the increase.

• Read this report by Okuhle Hlati in full at Cape Argus
• Read Popcru’s press statement in this regard at Cosatu Today

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