Members of the portfolio committee on Correctional Services conduct an oversight visit to the Goodwood Correctional Centre. Picture: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers
Cape Town - The case of awaiting-trial prisoner Bornface Banks, who recorded himself living the “soft life” behind bars, has once again come under the spotlight, as the portfolio committee on Correctional Services conducted an oversight visit at the Goodwood Correctional Centre on Wednesday.
More than 50 officials and committee members walked through the facility, where they were shown a presentation raising concerns of overcrowding, and the imprisonment of mentally disabled inmates.
The facility is where alleged gang leader Nafiz Modack and alleged extortionist Yanga “Bara” Nyalara are held in single cells away from other offenders.
Area commissioner Moliehi Sebotsa told the committee the Goodwood prison had 282 security officers and 2 497 inmates, 85 of whom were mental health-care patients.
A further 15 were remand detainees who had been served with a warrant awaiting psychiatric observation in a mental health institution.
“A video of remand detainee Bornface Kerera Banks, a Zimbabwean national, circulated on social media on 14 July 2024,” Sebotsa said.
“The inmate was traced and found at Unit G6A, Room 4 at Goodwood Correctional Centre.
“When confronted, the inmate denied that he was in possession of a cellphone and not much co-operative.
“A cellphone with a charger was later found hidden inside his radio.
“Earphones were found in the sole of his sandal. The inmate was found in possession of a cellphone with video material recorded in the cell as well as the courtyard,” Sebotsa said.
“He had an active TikTok account where he posted videos over a period of three months.”
Sebotsa said Banks was charged, degraded and immediately transferred to a maximum security facility.
“The TikTok account was deactivated on 28 July 2024 and the inmate forfeited his privileges, such as visits and buying from the offenders’ shop for a period of three months. An investigator was appointed to look at the possible complicity of officials. The investigation is expected to be finished on Friday.”
Portfolio committee chairperson Kgomotso Ramolobeng said: “We came to the correctional centre after (being made aware of) a viral video on social media of an inmate who made an indication that there is a very nice life in correctional centres.”
The oversight visit was also to give the new portfolio committee members insight into life in the prison – “what they see on social media versus what actually happens at correctional centres”, Ramolobeng said.
She said the committee was happy the department had taken action over the inmate whose video gave “society the impression that there is a great life in prison”.
mandilakhe.tshwete@inl.co.za
