Concourt gives prison watchdog more independence

But the CEO of the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services can still be disciplined by the Justice Department  By Tania Broughton The Constitutional Court has confirmed, in part, that the law affecting the independence of the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services falls foul of the Constitution. Parliament now has 24 months to amend provisions of the Correctional Services Act which effectively makes the...

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Report on prison torture allegations ordered to be released

Refusal by government to provide it was “unlawful and invalid” says judge By Elna Schütz The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) and the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services must release a report on alleged torture of inmates by prison personnel at Mangaung Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein. The Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS) has successfully applied to be given access to an...

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Fight for release of report on alleged prison torture

Security company wants report to be redacted if it is to be released By Elna Schütz Judgment has been reserved in an application for access to a report investigating claims of torture at the Mangaung Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein. The Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS) made a request for the information to the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) in 2014, following media...

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Prisoner denied access to laptop for studies takes authorities to court

Correctional services say his computer is a security risk By Zoë Postman Mbalenhle Nkosi, an inmate at Johannesburg Medium C Correctional Facility, has taken the head of the prison, the National Commissioner and the Minister of Correctional Services to court. The prison has denied him access to his laptop, which he needs for distance learning. He has accused the authorities of “infringing on...

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Joburg prisoners claim department is violating court’s order to feed them properly

Correctional Services says it has complied with the order and denies any wrongdoing 28 January 2019 By Ciaran Ryan Inmates at Johannesburg “Sun City” Medium B prison say prison authorities are violating a court order issued by Acting Judge SM Wentzel in June 2018 that ordered the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) to serve three meals properly spaced throughout the day. In January 2018 inmates complained to...

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Samuel Nndwambi’s murder conviction was overturned. But only after he spent 12 years in prison.

He says he can never forgive the state By Aidan Jones “Twelve years,” he says, slapping his hands together and shaking his head. “Twelve years. Twelve years.” Samuel Ntshavheni Nndwambi was a carpenter and breadwinner for his wife and three children. One late afternoon in early 2006, Samuel was completing a table for a client in his home carpenter workshop in Thohoyandou when...

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