Prisons watchdog concerned over spike in prison escapes

In two of the high-profile incidents sixteen dangerous suspects escaped from a Johannesburg prison known as Sun City and six prisoners from Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town. 

The inspectorate, which acts as a watchdog to uphold the human dignity of inmates, believes the recent escapes may be linked to living conditions in prison.

"We await the DCS (Department of Correctional Services) investigation reports of the recent incident which took place at the Johannesburg Correctional Centre, better known as Sun City, on Monday where sixteen awaiting trial prisoners, escaped through a pipe shaft and used an object to break the wall,” says spokesperson Emerantia Cupido.

Cupido says the Inspecting Judge, Justice Johann van der Westhuizen, is currently visiting several correctional facilities around the country.

Van der Westhuizen will compile a report on the conditions of the correctional facilities.

"This report will be made available to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services with various recommendations once the visits have been completed and the report compiled."

Last week Van der Westhuizen paid a visit to three correctional facilities, KwaZulu Natal's Ebongweni Supermax, Mapumulo and Stanger Correctional Centre.