INDICTMENT OF S.A. PRISONS

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31412, 4 July 1967, Page 15

INDICTMENT OF S.A. PRISONS

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

LONDON, July 3.

The “Sunday Times” said yesterday that a report had come into its hands containing a massive indictment of the South African prison system.

It said the report was a long document based on testimony of former prisoners and drawn up by the International Defence and Aid Fund, an organisation proscribed in South Africa. The document was described as providing explosive background to court action taken against five South African newspapermen in connexion with allegations about prison brutality. The newspaper said the report detailed cases of gratuitous brutality, indecent treatment and shortage of food, clothing and blankets. A former prisoner, Thaml Mhlambiso, was quoted as saying that prisoners at Leeuwkop were obliged to pick up hot coffee on the run at breakfast “Any sign of tendency to slacken earned one a whipping by a cane or batton strap.” The story said prisoners had to run past a counter to pick up hot plates of porridge —“if one missed the catch then it meant no food for that one.”

The report said there were many other cases of beatings, although the prison authorities maintained that violence by staff was not allowed.

It said South African prison regulations fall below international standards and are in any case often not observed.