Raids and unannounced visits to prisons countrywide will increase sharply, says Groenewald

CAPE TOWN - Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald has reiterated that raids and unannounced visits to prisons countrywide will increase sharply.

This follows a recent stabbing incident at the Pollsmoor Correctional Centre in Cape Town which led to a two-week lockdown of the facility.

A prison guard was injured in an attack allegedly hatched by inmates as part of a gang initiation. 

Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald said smuggled items at prisons countrywide remain a problem.

He said since July last year more than 100 000 smuggled items have been found and confiscated.

"We are cleaning our correctional facilities and those aiding smuggling know that their days are numbered. The last two weeks various raids took place, and the media was invited to raid in Baviaanspoort as well as Kgosi Mampuru correctional centres," said Groenewald

Grioenewald added that the raids will continue to clean the country's prisons.