Recent attack on Pollsmoor Prison officials couldn’t have been avoided: Thobakgale

National Correctional Services Commissioner Mokgothi Thobakgale said the recent violent attack on prison officials at Pollsmoor Prison could not have been avoided.

Two warders were injured after being stabbed by three inmates last week.

Thobakgale admitted that force was used to subdue the inmates who later died in hospital.

He visited the correctional facility on Tuesday.

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  The Correctional Services boss said that while the inmates involved in the stabbing of the prison officials were members of the numbers gang, they were still regarded as low-risk prisoners.
  
  "This could not have been avoided and let me indicate why. This attack was executed by offenders that were classified as cleaners. So, these are offenders that would have had a good record for them to be allocated a task to clean."
  
  He added that the attack also took place after breakfast when inmates were in lockdown already.
  
  "So, in that type of an environment, you would not be able to predict it unless you had prior information that something like this would happen."
  
  A police investigation into the incident is still underway.

Thobakgale added that the possibility of more inmates being involved in the planning and execution of a violent attack on prison officials at Pollsmoor prison is being investigated.

He said the other two inmates have since been moved to another correctional facility.

"There are these three and the other two that were with them. As to how many were part of the planning, those details we will confirm when we release the investigation report."

Thobakgale said they believe the attack to be gang-related and to prevent another incident, stricter measures are in place.

"We are intervening and this is what comes across as a response from the inmates, especially the gangs that are trying to operate here at Pollsmoor."

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