Johannesburg - Inmates at Boksburg Prison were quick to dismiss the new uniforms for awaiting-trial detainees the Department of Correctional Services rolled out in Gauteng on Wednesday.
The uniform is similar to that of sentenced prisoners but is yellow instead of orange and has the words “Remand Detainee” written on it.
Other items that form part of the uniform are a blue fleece jersey, underwear and shoes. The shoes will be optional – given only to those who have no footwear or whose shoes are badly worn.
The department aims to have all detainees in Krugersdorp, Heidelberg, Kgosi Mampuru, Modderbee and Johannesburg Medium A wearing the new outfits by December.
Inmates complained that the uniforms were not suitable for winter and that the sizes were wrong.
Remand detention deputy commissioner Vuyi Mlomo-Ndlovu said the new clothes were introduced to deal with hygiene issues.
“Many remand detainees entered facilities either with one set of clothes or inappropriate clothes, which became dirtier the longer they remained in the facility. In the past, the remand detainees wore private clothes, which made it difficult to distinguish them from visitors and contractors,” she said.
She urged relatives to collect the inmates’ private clothes and leave them with at least a set of clothing for court appearances.
“No remand detainee is to appear in any court proceedings dressed in a prescribed uniform. If a remand detainee does not have adequate or proper clothing to appear in court, he or she must be provided, at state expense, with appropriate clothing.”
The Star