The Public Servants Association (PSA) has blamed the Department of Correctional Services for the death and rape of two female prison warders in the Goedemoed Medium Correctional Centre in Aliwal North.
An inmate at the prison, serving a life sentence, held two female warders hostage on Friday.
The 35-year-old Nomsa Joyce Stuurman was allegedly stabbed in the neck with a pair of scissors while her 33-year-old colleague was raped.
PSA Manager Ivan Fredericks said the woman was held hostage for several hours until police officers negotiated her release.
He says the Department had inadequate staffing which he called a "Ticking Timebomb".
Fredericks said it was unacceptable, bordering on criminal, that officials are expected to carry out their duties, including the monitoring of dangerous inmates, without the necessary support.
