PAL IN THE CELL

THE alleged corrupt dealings of officials at Pollsmoor Prison is in the spotlight after a warden appeared alongside a bandiet on a TikTok video this week. 

The video made by an alleged skollie from Hanover Park, Kyle du Toit, sent tongues wagging on social media and even resulted in questions being posed to Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald by Members of Parliament. 

The video which was shared on WhatsApp statuses over the weekend shows a fully-uniformed warden openly posing on a video being made by the inmate on his cellphone. 

Shockingly, Du Toit tells the viewer of the video that the warden caught him with his phone and requested a voucher to pay the warden or the cellphone would be confiscated. 

Du Toit is heard saying: "Hello, look here. The warden caught my phone. You must give him a C-voucher otherwise he is going to take this phone." 

Since the video was released, more shocking evidence has arisen on social media showing the bandiet was even allowed to enter the visitation area of the prison so he could take a selfie when his motjie came to visit him in the mang. 

DA MP Nicholas Gotsell, member of the Select Committee on Security and Justice, questioned what action had been taken by DCS since the video surfaced. 

He enquired: "The questions posed relate to both internal and external consequence management for the Correctional Services Official who is depicted in the video; he clearly has a role in facilitating the use of cell phones in the facility and, it would appear, a form of extortion and self-enrichment is involved, given the request by the inmate.

"Apart from requesting details regarding consequence management within the Department’s disciplinary processes for both persons involved, I have also asked whether this matter was reported to the police."

DCS spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo confirmed they are aware of the video and the warden has been suspended. 

He says: "The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) is aware of a video circulating, showcasing an inmate and a correctional official from Pollsmoor Correctional Centre. 

"In the video, the inmate references a voucher which needs to be secured for the correctional official, in order to keep possession of the cellphone. The Department wishes to state that under no circumstances are inmates allowed to have cellphones, neither are officials allowed to take bribes or favours from inmates or their families."

Nxumalo says the phone has been confiscated and Du Toit will now be subjected to an internal disciplinary procedures, along with an investigation into how he came to be in possession of the cellphone.

He adds: "Subsequently, the official implicated in the video has been placed on suspension pending the outcome of an investigation which is currently underway.

"DCS commits to maintaining safe and secure correctional facilities which includes curbing smuggling. Elevation of search procedures at all its centre and improving on discipline, is key to ensuring that contraband is removed.

"Further to this, those found in possession of or implicated in the movement of contraband, be it inmates or officials, will be dealt with, according to policy and procedure."

Du Toit along with Mohammed Yaseen Claasen, Chadwin Charles, Bashier Gamba was on trial at the Western Cape High Court for the murder of a 15-year-old laaitie who was gunned down nearly five years ago. 

Dwayne Tyman, a Grade 10 pupil from Groenvlei High, was killed on 28 May 2020 while standing with his friends in Surburg Walk amid a gang war between the Americans and the Ghetto Kids.