CAPE TOWN - The Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS) says it has received confirmation that inmates at Kirkwood Correctional Centre in the Eastern Cape started eating again on Monday, after an anonymous tip-off that they were on hunger strike over restricted visitation rights.
JICS spokesperson Emerantia Cupido said they received an anonymous complaint that inmates had gone on a hunger strike over the past weekend due to restricted visitation rights.
“Due to the nature of the complaint (hunger strike) and the consequences it bears on inmates’ health, the JICS regional office was notified immediately on receipt of the complaint. It has been confirmed that the inmates started eating today. JICS continues to monitor the situation,” Cupido said.
But Department of Correctional Services national spokesperson, Singabakho Nxumalo said it was not a hunger strike, but a retaliation by inmates.
“Officials planned a searching exercise on Friday night, but our officials could not open the door in the cell units as they were blockaded from the inside by inmates. This is a serious safety contravention and cannot go unpunished," he said.
Nxumalo said visits were then suspended as a precautionary measure “as we have to guarantee safety of our officials, other inmates and visitors in our centres”.
"One unit (inmates’ cell) then registered grievances and threatened that they will not take meals. Other units are quiet as per the normal. We are monitoring the situation and all is normal. This is a classic case of ill-discipline and can never be acceptable. It has to be stated that inmates cannot refuse to be searched, and the same goes for our officials,” he said.
Cape Times