Yellow uniforms for remand detainees
Remand detainees at the Boksburg Prison will soon be dressed in bright yellow uniforms.
This will differentiate them from convicted inmates, by making them instantly recognisable.
According to a spokesperson for the Boksburg Prison, Patrick Thobejane, prison officials are now busy taking orders from detainees housed in their remand facility.
The vast majority of them have already made their uniform requests.
The new prison uniform was recently officially launched by Correctional Services Deputy Minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi, in the Eastern Cape, where the project was also piloted, before the roll-out was extended to other prison facilities throughout the country.
Ramatlhodi stated that the remand detainees would be provided with pairs of trousers and shirts, pyjamas, vests, a jersey, beanies and underwear; shoes and socks would be given only to those who do not have appropriate footwear.
According to the report, Ramatlhodi said the aim of the uniform was to minimise the flight risk of awaiting-trial prisoners.
“In the past, remand detainees wore private clothes, which made it difficult to distinguish them from visitors and contractors,” he said.
The uniform is also aimed at dealing with hygiene issues, as many remand detainees entered facilities either with one set of clothes – or inappropriate clothes – that became dirtier the longer they remained in the detention facility.
According to Thobejane, in Boksburg, uniforms will be produced by the inmates themselves, in the prison’s workshop, from supplied fabric; this will help to save taxpayer’s money.
Between 1 000 and 2 000 detainees are housed in the remand facility in Boksburg on a monthly basis.
The DA has welcomed the news
“Remand detainees are often held for long periods with only the clothes on their back, and no means to obtain clean clothes,” said DA MP James Selfe in a statement.
The DA believes that these prisoners awaiting their day in court should be treated with dignity, as is consistent with correctional services policy and our constitution – including prison gear that can be cleaned and changed and differentiates remand detainees from their convicted neighbours.
-@FanieBoksburg
