The Democratic Alliance (DA) joins the National Commissioner of Correctional Services in condemning possible incidences of torture of prisoners at the Pretoria Central Correctional Centre, and welcomes Mr Moyane’s commitment to conduct an internal investigation and to refer the matter to the South African Police Service (SAPS).

This follows the release of a sound recording of a prisoner allegedly being shocked by warders. From the information at our disposal, it would seem that this was not an isolated incident, that the practice had been going on for some time, and that a number of people were implicated in the practice. Apparently, torture was used to elicit information about the smuggling of contraband into the prison.

The sorry fact is that these practices are not confined to Pretoria Central. While it is true that many officials of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) work in very dangerous circumstances, the use of excessive force (for example, the unwarranted beating of inmates with batons and the unnecessary use of tear-gas) is a widespread occurrence. It very recently came to light in video footage from the New Kimberley Prison, and one hears of many other places where this happens.

The use of any form of torture is completely unacceptable: it simply brutalises inmates still further and makes their reintegration into society more difficult. Prison warders have the right to work in circumstances where their safety is guaranteed, but torturing inmates is likely to evoke violent responses. I will be raising this matter at the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services when next it meets.