Call for CCTV in cells to curb abuse

MPs have called for the installation of surveillance cameras in prison cells to monitor abuse and gangsterism.

CCTV cameras inside the cells were first recommended by the 2001 Jali Commission of Inquiry into fraud, corruption, violence and intimidation in Department of Correctional Services facilities. The commission argued that cells were where most prison abuse took place.

Briefing the committee on how far it was in implementing the Jali recommendations, the Department of Correctional Services said on Wednesday it could not install surveillance cameras in communal cells because this was “not consistent” with the constitution and would infringe on the prisoners’ right to privacy.

There were patrols by prison officials aimed at maintaining order and ensuring the safety of inmates.

But the chairman of the parliamentary oversight committee on correctional services, Vincent Smith, backed by the DA’s James Selfe, repeated the call on Wednesday for the installation of the cameras.

Smith argued that the interests of the abusers could not trump those of the abused inside prison.

“So this argument of not having surveillance inside the cells I don’t buy, and I’m prepared to fight that argument with every civil society body that chooses otherwise. Because the rights of those who have been abused are not being considered, but the abusers’ rights are being considered,” said Smith.

The argument that prison warders were expected to patrol was also not satisfactory as prisons did not have the capacity to do this.

“You have two officials for 300 prisoners in some of these facilities. The theoretical answer doesn’t satisfy me,” said Smith.

Selfe supported Smith, saying: “Very little patrolling takes place after hours. I support the call to have CCTV cameras inside the cells.”

Correctional Services national commissioner Tom Moyane agreed with the MPs.

Officials could combat gangsterism in cells if they understood what was happening inside them. “People in our facilities have seriously infringed on the human rights of others. But it’s a matter that should be dealt with at a political level.”

He said after lockdown, prison warders were not inside the cells but in the corridors and could not predict what happened in the cells, where the abuse of inmates, torture and gang fighting took place.

But the project co-ordinator of the Civil Society Prisons Reform Initiative, Lukas Muntingh, questioned whether privacy was the real and only reason the department would not install the cameras, saying the level of privacy people were afforded in prison was compromised anyway. “I think there are other reasons except the right to privacy.”

Muntingh said he was also not sure how effective the cameras would be.

“Even if you have cameras, will the officials be able to respond timeously if there is a fight going on or a rape? Or is this for investigation purposes?”

The Jali Commission had also found that sexual violence against vulnerable offenders, committed by inmates and officials, was rife in some prisons.

In Grootvlei young inmates were subjected to sexual violence by adult male offenders with the involvement of officials, it said. - Political Bureau