THE riot on August 3 at the New Generation Correctional Centre in Kimberley could have been avoided.
Correctional Services Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula told Parliament last week that an investigation would look into, among others things, incitement and collusion by prison warders.
Inmates at the R824million prison took warders hostage, set alight mattresses and destroyed phone booths and flat-screen TV sets.
Mapisa-Nqakula was reportedly informed about the simmering discontent by the prison community as early as June. She was told that inmates who came from far away places had complained that their families were finding it difficult to visit.
She had also been informed that the prison, being a medium-security facility, had maximum-security offenders transferred from other prisons to ease overcrowding.
The minister should have acted immediately upon receiving such reports. Prisoners are not jolly good fellas.
There is a reason why they are behind bars.
The minister, in this instance, displayed poor management. After she was told she did not react as the situation had demanded.
We have to agree withDemocratic Alliance MP Albert Fritz that the Kimberley riot was a "textbook illustration of a failed management model" for which Mapisa-Nqakula should take full responsibility.
Minister's riot bungle
THE riot on August 3 at the New Generation Correctional Centre in Kimberley could have been avoided.
Correctional Services Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula told Parliament last week that an investigation would look into, among others things, incitement and collusion by prison warders.
Inmates at the R824million prison took warders hostage, set alight mattresses and destroyed phone booths and flat-screen TV sets.
Mapisa-Nqakula was reportedly informed about the simmering discontent by the prison community as early as June. She was told that inmates who came from far away places had complained that their families were finding it difficult to visit.
She had also been informed that the prison, being a medium-security facility, had maximum-security offenders transferred from other prisons to ease overcrowding.
The minister should have acted immediately upon receiving such reports. Prisoners are not jolly good fellas.
There is a reason why they are behind bars.
The minister, in this instance, displayed poor management. After she was told she did not react as the situation had demanded.
We have to agree withDemocratic Alliance MP Albert Fritz that the Kimberley riot was a "textbook illustration of a failed management model" for which Mapisa-Nqakula should take full responsibility.
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