Morgan Van De Rede3 May 2025 | 8:00

Western Cape POPCRU reiterates call for additional officials in province's prisons

POPCRU Western Cape, secretary Mluleki Mbhele said there were numerous issues within prisons across the province.

Western Cape POPCRU reiterates call for additional officials in province's prisons

Photo: Pexels/RDNE Stock project

CAPE TOWN - The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POCRU) is calling on the Department of Correctional Services to employ more prison officials.  

POPCRU Western Cape, secretary Mluleki Mbhele, said there were numerous issues within prisons across the province.

“Our members are under siege in the correctional centres, and they are getting attacked by the inmates for various reasons. There are issues of gangsterism inside the prisons, which are led by the inmates themselves, so it then becomes unfortunate that the inmates will then attack our officials,” said Mbhele.

Mbhele said their members are burnt out and require more assistance.

He added, “We further call, and it has always been a call from POPCRU that the Department of Correctional Services must employ more officials, our members are overworked”.

Meanwhile, the union condemned the alleged involvement of now-suspended officials in the murder of inmate Quintin Fortuin at Goodwood Correctional Centre earlier this year.

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