S.Africa: Westville prison is a timebomb, say warders

[Everything under ANC rule is a timebomb. Jan]

Westville Prison is like a ticking timebomb waiting to explode at any time. This has been revealed by a senior prison official, who said despite the recent dramatic escape of suspected murderers who used guns which were allegedly smuggled into the prison by corrupt officials, no prison warder was searched when entering the prison.

The official, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of victimisation, said a "massive" escape could happen any time because nothing was being done to stop warders from colluding with the inmates.

"It is a naked truth that all prisoner escapes that we have had here were properly planned with the help of corrupt warders.

After the recent escape of very dangerous suspects, we expected to see the department putting in place measures to ensure that warders are searched when they come into the prison," he said.

He said the warders were only searched when they arrived in the morning and nobody bothered to search them when they went in and out of the prison during the course of the day.

This created a loophole for corrupt officials to smuggle in illegal goods such as drugs and firearms. Earlier this month, four men escaped, including Nkosana Ngcamu, who is accused of the murder of businessman Arvind Roopanand's 60-year-old wife, Maetri.

The increasing use of cellphones inside the cells was also one of the reasons why the escapes were properly planned, the official said.

"Prisoners are prohibited by law from having cellphones inside the cells. Prisoners can plan their escapes using cellphones. "Our investigation has revealed that even the priests who conduct religious services inside the prisons are involved in the smuggling of cellphones and drugs into the prison.

"This happens easily because there are no measures in place to ensure that people are properly searched," he added.

He added that the use of cash inside the prison was also rampant. Prisoners are not allowed to carry cash inside the prison. "We as loyal warders believe that there should be random inspections inside the prison because it has become ungovernable as a result of things that are brought into the cells," he said.

He said some "lazy" warders were asking inmates to count the number of prisoners in a cell. The inmates are supposed to be counted every morning and evening to ensure that no one has escaped.

Correctional Services spokesperson Graham Abrahams said the situation at Westville was made worse by the fact that the officials remained silent about things which happened there.

However, he confirmed that the department was aware that some prisoners were using cellphones and carrying cash inside the prison.

"We need to work on that problem together.

"The problem is that we have people who keep on pointing fingers instead of taking part in a problem solving drive," he said.

Abrahams said the department was taking the issue of escapes seriously and that officials who colluded with the inmates would be hauled before a disciplinary hearing. More than 10 warders were suspended after the recent incident.

This article was originally published on page 3 of Daily News on July 28, 2005

Source: Independent Online (IOL)

URL: http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click...