Cell phones, chargers, televisions, drugs, and wads of cash stashed inside the rectums of prisoners at the St Albans Correctional Services Centre in Gqeberha.
These were just some items that had been confiscated during an unscheduled early morning raid at the facility in the early hours on Monday morning.
The raid by the National Department of Correctional Services (DCS) forms part of a nationwide crackdown on prisons to rid the facilities of contraband.
It was led by the National Commissioner of Correctional Services, Makgothi Thobakgale.
It was not just prisoners who were in hot water over ill behaviour, but also wardens who showed up dismally late for work.
When members of the Emergency Support Team pounced on inmates of the Medium B section shortly after 4 am, many of them appeared dazed and bewildered and expressed their dismay at being plucked out of bed to get searched.
As protocol dictates the prisoners were instructed to exit the cell with their hands above their heads and to line up in pairs.
While the inmates were searched outside, the cells, which reeked of urine and feces were tossed.
The cells house an "assortment" of offenders which include murderers, gang members, and armed robbers, who all form part of a crime ring that DCS are busy dismantling.
Books, dirty orange prison uniforms, filthy sheets, and condoms (used and unopened) lay strewn as every nook and cranny of the cells were inspected.
Here, one inmate was found to have hidden cash wrapped in plastic up his rectum.
Police also confiscated cell phones, one of which was concealed in between the lid of a black plastic bucket.
Other contraband includes sharp objects which DCS officials said were used to stab their members.
A common thread identified in all of the cells that were searched was that those who are "in charge" of the cell normally ran their "operations" from the back corners of the cell, dubbed the headquarters.
The corners often have televisions and radios and plug points from which appliances are charged.
"In most instances, those that are housed in corners are the ones that are controlling everything that happens in a cell.
"That is why we were able to recover R1,900 in the first cell we got into from an offender. He's housed at the corner."
"We want to dismantle these crime rings so that they can focus on their rehabilitation programs," said Thobakgale.
He also said the prison was in the top ten worst prisons in the country because of its location in Gqeberha, which is "infested by gangsters" and where crime is high.
"Gqeberha has been unstable for more than ten years now.
"We are focusing on it to ensure that we bring the levels of crime down to zero."
In discussing tardy wardens and the allegations that some of them were the reason contraband was smuggled into prisons, Thobakgale said they were looking into that.
"We don't only search them as they walk in, we also send the sniffer dogs to their cars."
Thobakgale said he was awaiting a report to check if "anything" was found on the wardens.
He ordered that the names of latecomers be written down and also addressed them personally as they casually strolled into the building.
"They are supposed to come to work on time and prepared.
"If they are not on the side of the law then they join the population of offenders.
"Instead of addressing them on time at a parade, I now have to inspect the charges brought against them."
At the time the article was filed, the raids were still underway.
