Chaos erupted at the Boksburg prison after inmates refused a search operation by the Correctional Services National Task Team on Monday morning. In a video shared on social media, the inmates can be seen barricading a sectional gate to prevent being searched while hurling insults at wardens. The Department of Correctional Services spokesman Singabakho Nxumalo confirmed that the inmates were retaliating to a search operation. Nxumalo says the aim of the operation was to root out anything deemed as contraband and illegal in the facility, such as cellphones and drugs. "The prison has different sections and each one of them has an access gate. Prisoners blockaded the access gate and used their beds to block it. They also threw bricks at our officials. Now the situation is calm but we have to search until we are sure there is nothing left there,' Nxumalo adds.
INMATES HAVE CELLPHONES?
Nxumalo says the inmates tried to prevent the search as they knew they had cell phones on them. "Some of the images circulating via social media platforms 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 searching exercise knew that they were hiding contrabands in their cells." He adds that the department remains committed to incarcerate inmates in a humane and secure environment. However, the department will never tolerate undermining of the Correctional Services Act by unruly inmates hell-bent on continuing to unleash terror to communities and officials through acts of crime even when they are under lawful custody."
IDENTIFYING CULPRITS
The department will use the videos circulating on social media to identify the culprits that defied the law. "The said inmates are making a mockery of the correctional system by posting images and videos of themselves whilst it is known that cellphones are not allowed behind bars. He emphasises that there is a reason why the justice system removed some people from society for the purposes of rehabilitation. "Correctional centres shall never be a platform for people to entrench disrespect for the law and undermine the state," Nxulamo says.
