Question NW2323 to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
27 July 2015 - NW2323
Gqada, Ms T to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
(1)Whether steps (a) have been or (b) are to be taken to prevent the use of unauthorised communication devices within prisons; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) how many unauthorised communication devices have been (a) confiscated from remand detainees and (b) convicted prisoners (i) in the (aa) 2009 10, (bb) 2010 11, (cc) 2011 12, (dd) 2012 13, (ee) 2013 14 and (ff) 2014 15 financial years and (ii) from 1 April 2015 up to the latest date for which information is available; (3) what (a) type and (b) quantity of communication devices were confiscated from (i) remand detainees and (ii) convicted prisoners in the case of each financial year and time period?
Reply:
(1)(a)&(b) Yes, the Department is / has taken various steps to prevent or reduce the use of unauthorized communication devices within Correctional Centres. These steps include the following:
- The launching of a Back-2-Basics security campaign aimed at reasserting the importance of basic security measures and competencies such as searching of persons and goods.
- As part of broader engagements, the Department is part of an inter-departmental process exploring technical counter-measures in part response to gangs as a security threat group. This is a conscious effort to partner with other state law enforcement agencies in finding sustainable solutions to the holistic challenges (including integrity management of personnel).
- The searching of inmate cells and belongings at irregular (extraordinary) times to find and remove unauthorized communication devices that may have entered the Correctional facilities.
- The installation of cell phone detection systems in various Correctional Centres to assist officials in the identification and removing of unauthorized communication devices. Cell phone detection systems have been installed (or are currently in the process of being installed) at 39 Correctional Centres.
- The Department is also in the process of installing 14 Body Scanners at 7 Correctional Centres to further assist officials.
- The Department has initiated a process of engagement with the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) to explore various technical and/or legal solutions – including but not limited to cellphone jamming.
(2)&(3) In response to questions 2 and 3 the following information is provided in table format:
|
(2)How many unauthorised communication devices have been confiscated from: |
(i)(aa) 200910, |
(i)(bb) 201011 |
(i)(cc) 201112, |
(i)(dd) 201213 |
(i)(ee) 201314 |
(i)(ff) 201415 |
(ii)1 April 2015 up to 31 May 2015 |
|
2(a) Remand detainees |
2899 |
4276 |
7238 |
10399 |
9394 |
13119 |
2498 |
|
3(a)(i) Type and quantity of communication devices confiscated |
|||||||
|
Cell phones |
1712 |
2908 |
4808 |
6722 |
6167 |
8482 |
1693 |
|
SIM Cards |
1187 |
1368 |
2422 |
3665 |
3214 |
4616 |
792 |
|
DSTV Walker device |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
0 |
|
Chargers |
0 |
0 |
8 |
10 |
10 |
12 |
13 |
|
Cell phone watch |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Memory cards |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
|
Memory sticks (usb) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
|
2(b) Convicted Inmates |
1191 |
2865 |
5479 |
7594 |
11976 |
15482 |
4003 |
|
3(a)(ii) Type and quantity of communication devices confiscated |
|||||||
|
Cell phones |
767 |
2071 |
3614 |
5227 |
8070 |
9447 |
2430 |
|
SIM Cards |
346 |
673 |
1677 |
2100 |
3395 |
5486 |
1475 |
|
DSTV Walker device |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
11 |
4 |
2 |
|
Chargers |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
28 |
3 |
|
Cell phone watch |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Memory sticks |
3 |
8 |
11 |
4 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
|
Memory cards |
72 |
99 |
173 |
259 |
475 |
486 |
89 |
|
Cellphone battery |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
7 |
0 |
|
Modem |
3 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
|
Drifter |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
19 |
0 |
|
Bank cards |
0 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Hard drive |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |