The correctional services department made a submission to the parliamentary portfolio committee on Wednesday about violence in prisons, Beeld reported.
Committee members, in particular its chairman Vincent Smith, were dissatisfied with the information supplied by the department about specific incidents.
“Your submission is very sparse. Nowhere did you mention cellphones in prisons. Nobody spoke about prison officials conspiring with prisoners to smuggle in cellphones,” Smith was quoted as saying.
He reportedly said DSTV-walkas were being smuggled into jails, along with drugs.
“In Durban Westville they’re drinking Hennessy. We get calls at midnight, because some of them are affiliated to us.”
“Twelve o’clock at night: ‘No, I’m sitting here with a Hennessy and a DSTV-walka and I’m watching Liverpool against Arsenal.'”
Smith proposed a meeting to deal with the issue of gang activities in prisons.
Minister of Correctional Services S’bu Ndebele should launch full investigation into such allegations which has beset his department, following recommendation from the Cabinet.
