Inmates at Kimberley Correctional Services have described the conditions in the facility as “human rights abuses”, citing severe overcrowding and a lice infestation.
INMATES have described the conditions behind bars at Kimberley Correctional Services as amounting to “human rights abuses”, claiming it is severely overcrowded and infested with lice.
An offender pointed out that diseases could spread “like wildfire” in the overcrowded prison population.
“Understandably, prisons are not supposed to be five-star hotels, but criminals also have rights. There are only supposed to be a maximum of 35 people in a cell, but there are now over 70 people crammed into a confined space,” he said
An inmate who was released on bail this week said that he was bitten by lice while incarcerated.
“I saw the lice jumping around. I was bitten all over my body. The place needs to be fumigated. Some offenders try to burn them at night and there is a danger of the cells being set alight. The conditions in jail are very bad. I would have died if I had to stay there any longer.”
He claimed that they were only fed porridge for breakfast, while the last meal of the day, consisting of a quarter loaf of bread, was served at 1pm.
“I feed my dog better food than what I received in prison. I am a diabetic and suffered an attack as there was no medication available.”
He added that there was no privacy in the bathrooms and toilets as there were no doors.
An offender who has spent the past 29 days in custody said that drugs were being smuggled into the facility and also claimed that prisoners were assaulted by the warders.
An awaiting trial prisoner said that inmates were sleeping on the floor as well as inside the ablution facilities.
“Over 70 inmates have to share one toilet and are unable to shower, maintain good hygiene or flush ablution facilities when there is no water.”
He added that there was a shortage of food and some offenders were sent away hungry once supplies had run out.
“I was administered chronic medicine that had expired. Patients with mental conditions, foreign nationals, hardened gang members, smokers and non-smokers and gay offenders have to share the same cell.”
A legal representative, Herholdt Robertson, stated that he would consider bringing a new bail application for one of his clients based on the “appalling” conditions at the facility.
The Department of Correctional Services did not respond to media enquiries at the time of publication.
