Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre in Pretoria photo by Dimakatso Modipa
It doesn’t rain but pours at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Services.
Last week the prison was in the news for owing rates and services.
Although the debt was settled, inside a new problem is brewing.
Inmates have to make means to feed themselves as the prison is allegedly facing food shortages.
As a result the prison has restricted visits.
Families and attorneys are battling to visit relatives and clients.
A relative of an inmate at Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre who wished to remain anonymous said he discovered this last week when he went to visit a relative.
He said he had to protest before he was let in.
“When I got in my cousin broke down because I had brought him fried chicken. He told me he had last eaten the previous day in the afternoon,”.
“He said when the meals come, they are inadequate and are in small portions”, he said.
An attorney the publication spoke to said accessing their clients is like asking for an appointment with the president.
The disruption is affecting the ability of inmates to maintain essential personal connections, which are critical for mental health and rehabilitation.
The electricity dispute, triggered by an alleged municipal billing issue, has exposed vulnerabilities in the facility’s operations.
While the power was not ultimately disconnected, the uncertainty has reportedly impacted the provision of meals and daily operations.
Observers warn that these conditions threaten the safety, health, and dignity of those in custody.
Immediate intervention is needed to ensure inmates receive proper nutrition, access to essential services, and the ability to communicate with loved ones.
Authorities are being urged to act swiftly to stabilize operations at the correctional centre.
Ensuring humane conditions, uninterrupted services, and restored visitor access is essential to protect lives and prevent further deterioration of the situation.
Spokesperson of Department of Correctional Services Singabakho Nxumalo told Tshwane Talks he won’t be commenting on this allegations.
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