Masutha’s comments come after the spokesperson of the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru), Richard Mamabolo, who speaking to eNCA bemoaned the unsafe working conditions warders are often subjected to in overcrowded and under resourced correctional facilities.

He said since last night the department’s National Commissioner of Correctional Services, Arthur Fraser, has been at the prison and has established that the population of offenders at the facility is at 97,41% capacity, which means it is not overcrowded.

Masutha added the department was now waiting for a full report with facts around the incident.

“The department considers the issue of the safety of its staff as one of paramount importance and further said it takes the attack on the staff in a serious light.”

Masutha further stated that the department would be conducting a full assessment of the protocols involving the interaction of officials and inmates at the said facility to avoid such an incident happening again in future.

He also extended his condolences to the family of the 35-year-old woman who allegedly died at the hands of the inmate in this ordeal and wished the 33-year-old woman who was allegedly also raped and stabbed during the hostage incident a speedy recovery.

Masutha said that in an effort to alleviate staff shortages at its centres around the country, he has instructed the department’s training colleges to increase their intake of learnerships from once to twice a year.

OFM News