South Africa: Democratic Alliance Calls for Inquiry Into Groenpunt Prison Riot

press release

The Democratic Alliance joins the Minister of Correctional Services in condemning the riot and the violent behaviour that occurred at the Groenpunt Maximum Prison in the Free State yesterday. We express our sympathies particularly to the officials who were caught up in this violence.

It is important that the root causes of the outbreak of this violence be determined. There needs to be a full and independent inquiry into the matter to establish why this riot occurred, who were the instigators of the riot, and whether grievances by inmates that were allegedly the precipitate cause of the riot were attended to in terms of the Correctional Services Act and its regulations. Equally, the inquiry should determine whether there were security breaches that allowed the riot to occur, and which made it more difficult to quell.

...

AllAfrica publishes around 400 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.