PRISON violence is on the rise despite an increased awareness among inmates about how to channel their grievances, Judge Vuka Tshabalala said.

Tshabalala is the inspecting judge in the judicial inspectorate for correctional services, that is investigating the death of an inmate at Groenpunt Prison in Free State.

"Prisoners are generally unhappy and dissatisfied about a lot of things such as food, not getting transfers and the general poor conditions at the centres they are in," Tshabalala said speaking from his Durban office.

"I know because I have dealt with them directly before."

He said his investigator on Monday began interviewing the Groenpunt Prison inmates who were transferred to other prisons, following prisoner riots two weeks ago.

He said they would compile a report that would be sent to the inspectorate's CEO.

The CEO would then take it to Parliament, the Minister of Correctional Services and the national commissioner.

"We have powers to take the matter to the national prosecuting authority if we feel a crime has been committed."

Tshabalala expects the investigation to be finished in a few weeks.

"Our investigation will include the violence at the prison in Port Elizabeth (St Albans) and the riots at Groenpunt, which might be linked to the stabbing of a prison warder and the death of an inmate," he said. - sifilel@sowetan.co.za