By: Megan Baadjies
Pictures: Brendan Magaar
Cape Town - Prison officials launched a special anti-escape operation at Pollsmoor on Tuesday, and found drugs, banned cellphones and even a steamy love letter.
Operation Vala, meaning lockdown, was launched “to ensure South Africans are safe from crime as they spend the time with their loved ones” over the festive season.
The Daily Voice accompanied members of the Emergency Support Team (EST) and cops into Pollsmoor’s Medium B section where they conducted raids.
During a search of one of the small cells, an official found a small notebook with account numbers, phone numbers and even Facebook, Mxit and Google account passwords.
As the raid continued several cellphones were found – one inside a lotion bottle – while another phone and charger were hidden in a 2.5 kg sugar bag.
A large amount of dagga was also found inside a second sugar bag, and an inmate charged for drug possession.
In the courtyard, also known as the “binne plaas”, an official unwittingly discovered another phone.
“I saw the reflection of the plastic and I thought it was a pen (in the sand),” he tells the Daily Voice.
“As I kicked the sand off it, I realised it was a cellphone.”
Correctional Services regional commissioner Delekile Klaas says: “Cellphones become a deadly weapon when offenders use it to commit crimes outside.”
Daily Voice
For a first-hand account of the raids as well as more details on Operation Vala, get your Daily Voice on Wednesday.
Watch the video of the raid here:
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