Issued by: SA Communication Service
OPENING OF THE NEW PORTERVILLE VOORBERG PRISON IN THE WESTERN CAPE
The new Porterville Voorberg prison in the Western Cape will be handed over to Mr Henk Bruyn, National Commissioner of Correctional Services by Mr Sivi Gounden, Deputy Director-General of the National Public Works Department on 22 October 1996 at 9:30.
The Porterville prison is situated 10km outside the town of Porterville and building started on 30 September 1994. Despite heavy rain which caused delays, the contract was completed two months ahead of schedule.
The tender price for the prison was R38 849 823,07 and the contract period 104 weeks.
The original design for the prison was too expensive and had to be redesigned by the department of Public Works, making it as compact as possible to fit on the existing platform. The design and planning principles applied at Voorberg, is illustrative of the new generation prisons similar to recent extensions to the Victory Verster and Brandvlei prisons.
The Malmesbury prison, aiming at completion in 1997 is a good example of the full new generation prison design.
The Porterville Voorberg prison will accommodate 1200 prisoners. Housing for staff and the general support centre located opposite the main entrance will be completed by the end of October 1996.
ISSUED BY COMMUNICATION SERVICE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, PRETORIA 21 OCTOBER 1996
ENQUIRIES: MR HANS POOT, ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES, PWD TEL: (012) 205 3079
MEDIA LIAISON OFFICER: HELENE VERSTER, TEL (012) 205 2509