'You do not have a right to complain,’ inmates told during Pollsmoor Prison oversight visit

"You do not have a right to complain."

This is the message given to juvenile inmates at Pollsmoor Prison by the Portfolio Committee for Correctional Services during an oversight visit to the notorious detention centre on Tuesday. 

Officials and committee members conducted visits of various facilities at the prison including kitchens, workshops, juvenile holding cells and the clinics and pharmacies. 

The prison, which holds some of the most dangerous Cape Flats criminals, was buzzing as insiders said the inmates and officials allegedly cleaned the prison ahead of the visit. 

While visiting the clinics, desperate inmates took the opportunity to raise their concerns as they waited for medical treatment. 

One inmate was close to tears as he told the committee chairperson that due to diabetes he had lost his toes and was desperate for medical care.

Others claimed they were left traumatised by the ongoings in prison, saying they had no access to social workers. 

While visiting the juvenile holding cells, shocking stories were heard as youngsters told their stories of how they were incarcerated. 

The empty beds in the overcrowded cells they explained were as a result of not enough mattresses being supplied, resulting in inmates being forced to share single mattresses at night. 

As the smell of urine hung in the air, one inmate whispered: "We can't even wash, ma'dam".

One brave inmate, who is awaiting trial and has not been convicted, opted to address committee chairperson Kgomotso Ramolobeng, saying the showers were broken and they were unable to bathe. 

But she turned and lambasted them for getting arrested in the first place, saying: "Why are you complaining about showers and bed and all that. When you were outside doing what you were doing, you didn’t think that you would come here in this situation. This is not home. When you rob anyone, when you stab anyone, when you get caught you are going to end up here and you will stay here until you are convicted. The showers you are complaining about, the blankets you are complaining about will be your situation until you get out of here." 

She further elaborated that many of the juveniles were granted bail but that their parents had refused to pay.   

"But you cannot complain and you do not even have a right to complain."

As the committee exited, several DCS officials were seen shaking their heads with one official telling the Cape Argus that plans were under way to fix the showers. 

After the visit, Ramolobeng back curtailed on her earlier comments saying she was responding emotively. 

"Inmates have rights…What I said there was out of emotions because I am a mother," she said and claimed that the lack of showers is a ‘worry factor’". 

Cape Argus