MPs slam Correctional Services Dept's failure to prevent deaths of inmates by suicide

CAPE TOWN - Members of Parliament’s Correctional Services Portfolio Committee have slammed the department accusing it of failing to prevent the unnatural deaths of prisoners by suicide.

Parties have also questioned the high number of prisoners whose causes of death are registered as “unknown”.

They said the rise in unnatural deaths over the last three years is a concern and noted how prison officials weren’t held fully accountable.

The Department of Correctional Services said the unnatural deaths at correctional facilities typically involve fatalities resulting from homicide, suicide and accidents like drug overdose.

The department said over the last three years there have been 1,144 with more than 400 still under investigation.

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) member of Parliament (MP) Carl Niehaus raised the alarm on the number of deaths registered as unknown.

“I don’t understand that you can come and tell me that there are unknown causes of death.”

The Democratic Alliance (DA)’s Kabelo Kgobisa-Ngcaba said prison officials should pay a higher price where they're found to have played a role.

“These people who participated in the death of an inmate and then got off with a verbal warning. What does that even mean? Why would you get a written warning or any sort of warning, surely it should be dismissal. “

The department said several deaths are still under investigation and most suicides are usually linked to mental health.