Ann Eveleth
A strike by awaiting-trial prisoners in
Durban’s Westville prison entered its second
month this week.
At least six prisoners have escaped and
hundreds of others are refusing to attend
court proceedings until their demands are met.
Topping the prisoners’ list of grievances,
presented to the ministries of justice, safety
and security and correctional services, are
the “slow-moving wheels of justice” which they
blame for “long and unreasonable” pre-trial
remands and overcrowded conditions.
They claim some prisoners have been awaiting
trial for up to four years.
Lawyers for Human Rights representative Mini
Shembe confirmed some of the remand periods at
issue were “extraordinarily long” and said the
worst cases had been referred to the
Department of Justice.
Barend Heystek, a spokesperson for Justice
Minister Dullah Omar, agreed the situation was
“very unsatisfactory”, but said steps were
being taken to remedy the problem.
Ministry of Correctional Services
representativeBert Slabbert said there were 29
118 awaiting-trial prisoners incarcerated in
South African prisons on March 31. This
reflected a rise of almost 25% since the same
time last year.
Figures for Pretoria and Pollsmoor prisons
quoted in Parliament by Minister of
Correctional Services Sipo Mzimela suggested
that at least 8% of awaiting-trial prisoners
in December 1995 had waited in prison for more
than six months and about 24% had served more
than four months awaiting trial.
University of Natal, Durban Law Professor
David McQuoid-Mason pointed out that any
prisoner who felt their pre-trial detention
period was “unreasonable” could challenge such
detention in court.