The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) said order has been restored at Boksburg prison after a group of inmates became “unruly” and barricaded a sectional gate during a search operation.
It is understood inmates barricaded the sectional gate in retaliation to a mandatory search operation by the National Task Team as part of its Festive Season Security Operation.
Chaos erupted at the facility when officials clashed with inmates over a search operation aimed at rooting out illegal cellphones and other contraband.
In a statement on Tuesday, the department’s spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo, said the incident happened on Monday, in retaliation to a mandatory search operation by the department’s national task team.
“DSC shall never hesitate to act with vigour in order to ensure that there is no dereliction from the core mandate of corrections,” Nxumalo said.
“Inmates attempting to undermine the authority of the state know fully of the consequences, and DSC will never compromise the safety and security of other inmates, officials, members of the community and service providers.”
Nxumalo said the proliferation of mobile phones and other contrabands is a grave concern and have to be removed from prison.
“Some of the images circulating via social media emanate from inmates, making a mockery of the correctional system. This is a clear indication that the few unruly inmates who sought to prevent the search exercise- knew fully that they were hiding contrabands in their cells.”
“Credit must be given to correctional officers for conducting themselves in an orderly manner, despite extreme levels of unbecoming behaviour and provocation by some of the inmates.
“Those involved will be identified and corrective measures taken against them. We remain committed to incarcerate inmates in a humane and secure environment.
“However, we will not tolerate undermining the Correctional Services Act by unruly inmates hellbent on continuing to unleash terror to communities and officials through acts of crime, even when they are under lawful custody. There is a reason why the justice system removed some people from society for the purpose of rehabilitation.”
Source: News24, The Citizen, Sunday World, Eyewitness News, image from Twitter: @thepinkbrain1