Phones in prisons: Inside help, broken scanners, and a failing system

CapeTalk's Lester Kiewit chats to former Pollsmoor Prison warden, Chris Malgas.

Listen to their conversation in the audio clip below:

Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has written to Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald, calling for urgent action to block cellphone signals at Pollsmoor Prison. 

ALSO READ: 'Not enough to just jail criminals': CPT Mayor calls for blocking of cellphone signal at Pollsmoor 

The mayor has raised the alarm over growing reports that serious crimes, including extortion, are being coordinated via phones from inside the prison.

In one case, a contractor reportedly abandoned a city infrastructure project in Bishop Lavis after receiving extortion threats allegedly made from within Pollsmoor.

Malgas says contraband cellphones enter prisons through a combination of corrupt staff, court interactions, service providers, and items hidden on prison grounds. 

He argues that signal-blocking technology alone won’t solve the problem because the deeper issue lies in systemic corruption, weak oversight, and deliberate sabotage of security equipment by some correctional officers. 

Malgas believes meaningful reform must begin with staff training and integrity. 

While he acknowledges the difficulty of maintaining control in prisons run by powerful gangs, he insists that “change starts with staff.” 

Even if every phone is confiscated and signals blocked, Malagas says the criminal networks behind bars are “highly innovative” and will find new methods of communication, often with inside help.

"They are very creative...the criminal world is an empire as big as business; therefore, they are arrogant enough from outside of prisons, they find a way. If we block it...staff will bring their own phone, take out their sim card, give it to the offender during the day and nighttime he takes it home when he knocks off...they are always one step ahead. We need to be smarter, we need to see them coming...and instead of reactive, be more proactive."

- Chris Malgas, former Pollsmoor Prison warden

ALSO READ: A (literal) ton of drugs, 41k cellphones, 11k weapons confiscated from prisoners 

Scroll up to listen to the full conversation.