Prisoners complain of being beaten up

INMATES at two of the country’s maximum-security prisons have called on the watchdog body looking after their interests to exercise stronger oversight against warders, who they claim are acting with impunity in their treatment of prisoners.

The Wits Justice Project has received several complaints from inmates via their families at Mangaung in Bloemfontein and Leeuwkop over the treatment of prisoners, saying that the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (Jics) must step in to ensure their loved ones are safe behind bars.

Several inmate’s family members at both facilities said they found officials unhelpful when seeking details on relatives, especially if