Question NW85 to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
14 March 2017 - NW85
Selfe, Mr J to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
(1)What (a) facilities are available for prisoners at the St Albans prison in Port Elizabeth to receive contact visits and (b) are the relevant prison policies in this regard; (2) (a) what facilities are available in the specified prison for medical treatment of inmates and (b) how many (i) qualified doctors and (ii) registered nurses are employed (aa) full-time and (bb) part-time in these facilities; (3) (a) what facilities are available in the St Albans prison for prisoners’ personal hygienic needs, including washing facilities, trimming of hair and nails and (b) what are the relevant policies put in place in this regard?
Reply:
- (a) The following facilities are available for contact visits:
- St Albans Remand Detention Facility: accommodates 20 people at a time
- St Albans Medium B Correctional Centre: accommodates 40 people at a time
- St Albans Maximum Correctional Centre: accommodates 40 people at a time
(b) Correctional Services Order 3, Chapter V (3)(f)(i)(cc) stipulates that all visits are non-contact visits, but attempts should be made to allow contact visits for offenders in privilege group A. Offenders in privilege group A may however not lay claim to contact visits, as security considerations, the behaviour and adaptation of the offender remain the primary factors to be considered. The same apply to remand detainees.
2. (a) Each Centre has a clinic to attend to the sick inmates. There is also a 24 hour manned hospital for critically ill inmates.
(b) (i) One permanently appointed doctor.
(ii) There are thirty (30) registered nurses.
(aa) All are full–time employees
(bb) The facilities have two part–time doctors.
3. (a) Each housing unit has ablution block for inmates to shower and wash their clothes. The centres have hair clippers that are issued in each unit and
a dedicated room where inmates go and have their hair trimmed.
(b) Correctional Services Order 3, Chapter V, Sub Section (3)(f)(i)(cc) stipulates that “Head of Prisons must ensure that a qualified barber or
prisoner with appropriate experience is appointed to cut prisoners’ hair”.