An altercation between old and new awaiting trial prisoners broke out at Westville Prison in Durban and led to the injury of 14 inmates. The Correctional Services Department said they were investigating the matter.

DCS National Commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale explained that the prisoners broke a window and then used broken glasses to stab each other. "Seven of the inmates were treated at the prison's hospital while the other seven were treated externally. All of them are back in the centre, we don't have any fatality but what we wanted to understand is what is the root cause because these offenders are remanded."

Thobakgale said families and friends of inmates were not making things easier by bringing them contraband in the form of weapon. He said they are instead putting their lives in more danger. "One of the risks that we have realised is that when offenders go out to court, they interact with family members and friends and in that interaction, they get weapons which they bring inside correctional facilities. So, one of the things that we were looking at is how we can actually ensure that we stop that. We also encourage family members when they come for visits that they need to contribute to know a peaceful and stable setting in correctional facilities."