Allegations of widespread corruption at the Durban Westville Correctional Centre have again surfaced - this time from concerned prison warders.
Warders, speaking on condition of anonymity, said yesterday that "stinking" corruption was the order of the day in the prison.
The prison has an estimated shortage of 400 personnel and more than 11000 prisoners. In addition, officials suspended four years ago are still getting full salaries.
The warders further confirmed that their colleagues were "helping offenders to escape".
"Relationships are based on financial rewards. Warders are involved in the scams to supplement their salaries," said one senior warder.
Escalating problems
Other warders who are also members of the Public Servants Association of South Africa (PSA) and the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) said the problems were escalating.
"Members who were involved in prisoners' medical aid fraud have since been promoted. To date the electric fence where prisoners made a break still needs mending."
Warders complained that their working conditions were not conducive to a healthy working environment after the employer changed their working hours.
"Our situation was worsened after the changed working conditions. We need 400 more members and we are working through our lunch hour to make up for lost labour."
KwaZulu-Natal PSA manager Claude Naicker said: "Some members were involved in the prisoners medical aid fraud and the department conducted investigations. The members were not found guilty. People cannot be deprived of their rights to get promoted because they were accused of medical aid fraud but not found guilty."
Naicker said there was a huge staff shortage in the centre and some members did not even take lunch breaks. "The new shift system is a problem, but it was signed by our sister union. We have called on management to employ more staff."
Popcru secretary Kwenza Nxele said the new shift system was part of a move to improve the working conditions where warders work from 6am to 6pm, and the weekend work was considered overtime.
Warders hit at prison corruption
Allegations of widespread corruption at the Durban Westville Correctional Centre have again surfaced - this time from concerned prison warders.
Warders, speaking on condition of anonymity, said yesterday that "stinking" corruption was the order of the day in the prison.
The prison has an estimated shortage of 400 personnel and more than 11000 prisoners. In addition, officials suspended four years ago are still getting full salaries.
The warders further confirmed that their colleagues were "helping offenders to escape".
"Relationships are based on financial rewards. Warders are involved in the scams to supplement their salaries," said one senior warder.
Escalating problems
Other warders who are also members of the Public Servants Association of South Africa (PSA) and the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) said the problems were escalating.
"Members who were involved in prisoners' medical aid fraud have since been promoted. To date the electric fence where prisoners made a break still needs mending."
Warders complained that their working conditions were not conducive to a healthy working environment after the employer changed their working hours.
"Our situation was worsened after the changed working conditions. We need 400 more members and we are working through our lunch hour to make up for lost labour."
KwaZulu-Natal PSA manager Claude Naicker said: "Some members were involved in the prisoners medical aid fraud and the department conducted investigations. The members were not found guilty. People cannot be deprived of their rights to get promoted because they were accused of medical aid fraud but not found guilty."
Naicker said there was a huge staff shortage in the centre and some members did not even take lunch breaks. "The new shift system is a problem, but it was signed by our sister union. We have called on management to employ more staff."
Popcru secretary Kwenza Nxele said the new shift system was part of a move to improve the working conditions where warders work from 6am to 6pm, and the weekend work was considered overtime.
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