Inmates at Waterval Prison in Utrecht, KwaZulu-Natal, have recently gone on a hunger strike in protest of certain regulations implemented at the facility.
The protest began on Saturday, 25 March 2023, with inmates complaining that they were no longer allowed to play soccer on one of the fields outside the prison.
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Additionally, inmates voiced their concerns about the new regulations on receiving parcels from courier services, booking visits, and depositing money from their families into the Offender Bank Accounts. In response, the inmates demanded to speak to the Department of Correctional Services Area Commissioner.
According to sources, 309 out of 631 offenders officially embarked on the hunger strike. The atmosphere was tense, and the prison staff were on guard. Khetho Khuzwayo, spokesperson for the KZN Regional Department of Correctional Services, confirmed the incident and stated that the situation was dealt with swiftly, and tensions were deescalated.
Khuzwayo explained that hunger strikes are regarded as a serious infringement on centre discipline and can have adverse effects on the health of the inmates. Therefore, they must be treated with the necessary sensitivity and dealt with without delay.
“The management intervened swiftly, and the matter was resolved on the same day, and all operations are functioning in order,” Khuzwayo assured.
The hunger strike has now ended, and the situation is being monitored. However, it raises questions about the conditions and treatment of inmates in South African prisons.
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