Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola has announced that full body scanners are to be installed at seven of South Africa's most problematic prisons by month end to curb smuggling,
Lamola expressed concern at a media briefing on Wednesday about several videos that have gone viral depicting prisoners engaging in illegal acts while behind bars.
He said Correctional Services will be engaging organised labour in its sector and the National Prosecuting Authority on a zero tolerance policy when it comes to smuggling of contraband in South Africa's prisons.
Lamola also warned that errant officials involved in the smuggling craft and other offences will not be spared any mercy and will be summarily dismissed.
He added that senior prisons officials were being taken to task and suspended after several videos went viral showing inmates doing drugs and warders arming inmates and encouraging them to fight fellow prisoners.
The scanners are to be installed at Durban Westville, St Albans in Port Elizabeth, Johannesburg, Kgosi Mampuru II in Pretoria, Pollsmoor in Cape Town, Barberton in Mpumalanga and Groenepunt in the Free State.
New management has also been appointed to St Albans Correctional Centre in Port Elizabeth where several videos of inmates partying and doing drugs have surfaced. - African News Agency (ANA)
