Pollsmoor
Holey moley! Pollsmoor fixing hole in wall after concerns raised
Residents raised concerns about the hole three months ago.
That was the warning from the Correctional Services Department after a Pollsmoor warder was found in possession of 96 mandrax tablets during a random search earlier this month.
The Correctional Services Department said the long-serving official was stabbed in his back, head and hands.
On Thursday, the Western Cape High Court postponed sentencing proceedings until 18 February.
Inmates in the medium B section set mattresses alight on Monday to prevent prison officials and police from raiding a cell.
Six inmates broke out of the medium B section on Sunday night when only one warder was on duty guarding a unit with over 130 prisoners.
Preliminary investigations show that the men used components of a bed to remove the steel bars over a window.
The men allegedly broke out of the Medium B facility on Sunday night.
There are currently 2,637 prisoners accommodated at Pollsmoor, a thousand more than it was designed for.
Over the weekend, five warders were attacked in two separate incidents at the facility.
On Sunday prison visits were suspended at Pollsmoor Prison after four warders were ambushed with modified padlocks, a fifth warder was attacked on Monday.
It is believed that the officials were trying to stop an assault on an inmate when they themselves were beaten.
Correctional Services has approved a transfer plan that will see inmates already serving sentences relocated to other facilities.
Last month, the Western Cape High Court ordered the Tokai facility to reduce overcrowding to 120%.
Former inmate Carol White opens up about parenting behind bars.
Provincial Department of Correctional Service’s Freddie Engelbrecht says 600 inmates have already been moved from Pollsmoor.
At least 33 inmates attacked prison warders at the St Albans Maximum Correctional Centre resulting in three fatalities.
The Pollsmoor Correctional Services facility is currently housing 7,477 inmates but it only has bed space for 4,336 people.
Sonke Gender Justice says it’s ready to go to court over conditions at Pollsmoor prison.