Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian
pollsmoor prisonlatest news & developments
Zandile Mafe, who faces charges of terrorism and arson, on Wednesday admitted in the Western Cape high court that he had set fire to parliament at the beginning of last year. (Photo by Xabiso Mkhabela/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Alleged parliament arsonist Zandile Mafe ‘unfit to stand trial’

Judge Nathan Erasmus noted that a psychiatrist had found Mafe to be delusional and described his behaviour as ‘strange and inappropriate’

Zandile Mafe, who faces charges of terrorism and arson, on Wednesday admitted in the Western Cape high court that he had set fire to parliament at the beginning of last year.  (Photo by GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP via Getty Images)
Video

WATCH: Zandile Mafe admits to setting parliament on fire

A psychiatric report however says Mafewas not aware of his conduct when he set the national assembly building alight

Former detainees tell of being denied chronic medication and contracting diseases like TB while incarcerated in the overcrowded Cape Town facility.

Pollsmoor Remand: “They treated us like animals”

Former detainees tell of being denied chronic medication and contracting diseases like TB while incarcerated in the overcrowded Cape Town facility.

Dining in Pollsmoor: The ethics of a prison restaurant

Pollsmoor prison restaurant serves the Cape Town public food. Milisuthando Bongela reflects on the ethics of running a prison restaurant.

Jermaine Prim, who allegedly ran an elaborate scam targeting luxury car owners from his cell, will return to court in later November

Jailhouse cod with a dash of hijacking

The interactions with the convicts were a highlight of the occasion. They seemed to be in very high spirits.

Melusi Motha denies ever being arrested, let alone spending time in prison. He claims that he is being targeted because of his political career. (David Harrison/M&G)

Filth, disease, sex and violence for Pollsmoor’s female inmates

Ruth Hopkins interviewed five women who are or were jailed in Pollsmoor Prison. They spoke of being traumatised by the appalling conditions.

​Data-driven safety plan aims for rapid violent crime prevention in the Western Cape

A sickening state of affairs at Pollsmoor prison

Former inmates tell of being denied chronic medication and contracting diseases such as TB while incarcerated in the overcrowded Cape Town prison.

Jermaine Prim, who allegedly ran an elaborate scam targeting luxury car owners from his cell, will return to court in later November

How Pollsmoor prison can kill you

The prison may have to clean up its act if an interdict launched by civil society that challenges the life-threatening conditions succeeds.

Thousands evacuated from rat-infested Pollsmoor prison

At least 4 000 inmates are being evacuated from Pollsmoor prison after at least one prisoner died from a disease related to rat infestation.

Detainees await tuberculosis testing at Pollsmoor

Pollsmoor prisoners treated ‘worse than animals’

Lice, grime, broken toilets and six-hour waits for visitors: life is tough in Cape Town’s Pollsmoor prison.

Africa Check investigates the real state of health care in South Africa prisons after claims made my the Deputy Minister of Correctional Services Thabang Makwetla.

Public versus prison healthcare: What are the facts?

Deputy Minister of Correctional Services Thabang Makwetla claims that prisoners in SA have access to better healthcare. Africa Check investigates.

Scene from ‘The Outsiders’

Inmates bring first-hand ordeals to the stage

"The Outsiders" – a play performed by inmates and parolees – makes a strong point about the reintegration of offenders into society.

New life for ex-Hard Livings leader Staggie

Former Hard Livings leader Staggie is being helped by Pastor Ivan Waldeck. But the fact that Waldeck was once a member of the same gang irks police.

Hands-on: The state is banking on technology to help fight tuberculosis.

Opinion: TB cannot be kept behind bars

World TB Day is on March 24: We look at plans to curb the disease’s spread – in prisons and beyond.

The Constitutional Court found that state negligence led to Dudley Lee getting ill.

TB ruling furthers prisoners’ rights

But overcrowded prisons such as Pollsmoor may not be able to address their healthcare deficits. Niren Tolsi reports.

Young in Prison is an organisation that works with youth in correctional centres

Children in Pollsmoor

In February 2011, there were 861 children in prison, under the age of 18, and 54 075 youth between the ages of 18 and 25.

When the authorities have finished quibbling over the fate of the Ottery Youth Care Centre

Juvenile offenders: Youth care centre at risk of closure

The Cape Town government may shut down a facility that gives hope to boys whom society has shunned. Ilham Rawoot reports.

A study has shown that Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town

Report shows sorry state of South Africa’s prisons

The correctional services department owes about R1.3-billion in damages to prisoners and former inmates for bodily injury and rape while in prison.

Young in Prison is an organisation that works with youth in correctional centres

Tuberculosis runs riot in Pollsmoor

The story of a ruined man’s lone legal battle reveals the dangerous conditions that prevail at the Western Cape prison.

Jameela Jacobs* got involved in gangs at a young age and spent the past 18 years in prison for murder.

Tales of a female gangster girl

Jameela Jacobs was one of the few but growing number of women in gangs. She spoke to Ilham Rawoot about ended up spending half of her life in prison.