The South African Correctional Services Workers Union (SACOSWU) is disappointed and disturbed at the escape of inmate Yanga Wayithi out of Pollsmoor Correctional Facility on a Tuesday. Although we praise the authorities for their prompt deportation of the inmate, we, however, criticise the security measures that allowed for his escape in the first place.
As the union that represents all related employees of the correctional services, we raise alarms about the lack of adequate measures such as under-funding, lack of personnel, and too little training which endangers both our members and the public.
What has happened at Pollsmoor is a classic example of the systemic dysfunction of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS). We demand that the department be compelled to rectify these problems immediately, for example:
* Looking into the details that led to the escape
* Reviewing and tightening the security measures of all facilities
* Offering enough training and resourcing for security personnel working at correctional services
* Ensuring that there are no personnel shortages for such positions to prevent further occurrences