Ongoing gang wars at Cape Town's prisons have resulted in one inmate being stabbed to death at Pollsmoor prison on Thursday night and tensions remain high, a spokesman for the correctional services said on Friday. Another inmate is in a critical condition.
"As we speak, the situation is very tense and security personnel is closely monitoring the situation. The incident was immediately reported to the Kirstenhof police station and a case of murder and grievous bodily harm was opened," said Correctional Services spokesman Simphiwe Xako. The department and police are probing the incident.
Xako said Thursday night's incident followed another gang-related attack at the Goodwood prison two weeks ago in which a member of the 28s gang had boiling water thrown at him after fellow inmates had accused him of stealing a cellphone belonging to another. The cellular phone was later confiscated and a number of items and mandrax tablets were also discovered during the subsequent intensive search of all the cells in the correctional facility, Xako said. Two prison officials were also attacked.
- African News Agency (ANA)
