Zimbabwean national Bornface Banks, remanded at Goodwood Correctional Centre for kidnapping allegations, is in hot water for breaking the law after he was seen in a video bragging about the good life in prison.
The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) confirmed that Banks would be taken through a disciplinary process.
Cellphones are defined as a contraband in correctional centres in South Africa, hence illegal access and usage is a punishable offence.
In the video, Banks, dressed in yellow-prison garments, has earphones on and sports a wide smile. Other remand detainees around him seem entertained as he speaks English with a deep Zimbabwean accent.
“You put us in prison and you think we are suffering … no, my brother, we are doing extremely fine. Look how happy we are. This morning, we had breakfast; in the afternoon, we had lunch and we had supper … We are about to have dinner, my brother. We are doing extremely fine … We are not even suffering. We are happy. We are not even paying rent. No, we are not buying electricity. We don’t even cook food; they give us (food) for free,” said Banks.
In the background, the others laugh and cheer him on.
“DCS is appalled by the video making rounds on social media by inmate Bornface Banks. He is a Zimbabwean national remanded at Goodwood Correctional Centre for kidnapping allegations. A searching exercise was conducted and the used cellphone was confiscated,” said DCS spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo.
“DCS is deeply incensed by this behaviour and there shall be strong action and consequences.”
The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) said the core mandate of the DCS was rehabilitation and the facilities could not be seen as hotels.
“Part of what we have been striving for as a union is to ensure inmates do not idle around within out correctional facilities, and the fact that some might brag about living a soft life is demonstrative of the many challenges that still need to be addressed; issues like overcrowding and understaffing, gangsters and the availability of illicit items.
“What we have since called for is that the DCS should become self-sufficient by producing its own food, clothing and furniture. This, we believe, will skill and keep inmates busy, but will also reduce the current re-offending rate which is over 75%,” said Popcru spokesperson Richard Mamabolo.
He said Popcru was hopeful that new Justice and Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald, working closely with the national commissioner, would improve conditions for advancing the core mandate.
Banks and many other inmates tend to go live on various social media platforms such as TikTok, Facebook and X, interacting with followers from all over the country.
Many even meet and date people outside prison while others get people from the outside to buy them food, toiletries and smuggle cellphones and more into prison.
The Star