The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) will investigate allegations that 30 prisoners were stripped naked in the presence of women warders at the Westville prison, South African Broadcasting Corporation news reported on Wednesday.
It was also alleged that some of the stripped prisoners were assaulted in the same incident on Tuesday night. But prison authorities denied the assaults and said prisoners were usually searched to check for items which may have been smuggled into the prison.
Assistant prison head Jack Ndingi denied that prisoners were stripped naked in the presence of female warders. He however did confirm that a complaint had been received from one of the prisoners’ wives.
Spokesperson for the SAHRC, Professor Karthy Govender, said the incident warranted an investigation.
”At this stage one can say these are serious allegations which warrant an investigation,” he said.
”If they are found to have a measure of truth in them, wardens responsible will be subjected to a disciplinary hearing.”
Among the goods confiscated were dagga, civilian clothes and money.
Ndingi denied that cigarettes and phone cards were also taken from prisoners, SABC reported. – Sapa