The Public Servants’ Association (PSA) has raised alarm over what it calls a ‘disturbing rise in violence’ inside the country’s correctional facilities, following yet another violent incident at Pollsmoor Correctional Centre in Cape Town.
It comes after two correctional officials were injured and three inmates killed during a stabbing incident at the facility on 29 October. The attack reportedly broke out as officials tried to intervene in a violent altercation between rival gangs.
The PSA’s Aileen Mosetic said that gangs operating within Pollsmoor remain heavily connected to those outside prison walls, as per EWN.
‘The offenders just attacked our officials with knives, and we’re not aware of any particular reason why they attacked officials at that time,’ Mosetic explained.
‘They do make their own plans and decide who and when to attack. Even though it’s taking place in the prisons, the same gangs are operating on the outside.’
This latest attack marks the second stabbing incident at Pollsmoor in just two weeks, as the PSA expressed serious concern about the alarming escalation in gang-related violence in correctional facilities, warning that staff continue to face ‘extremely dangerous and volatile conditions.’
In its statement, the PSA said correctional officials often find themselves on the front lines of the violence. It added that officers are working ‘without adequate resources, inadequate staffing, and a lack of support to ensure their safety.’
The association is urging the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) to urgently review security protocols, address staff shortages, and take decisive action to curb the growing threat of gang violence.
‘The PSA continues to be extremely concerned about the safety and well-being of DCS officials,’ the statement continued. ‘It is imperative that measures be put in place to protect the lives of officials who perform their duties with dedication under increasingly perilous circumstances.’
The PSA also extended its support to those affected, saying it expresses its unwavering support for the affected officials and their families during this difficult time.
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