Inside South African prisons: Whistleblower exposes sexual abuse and lawlessness

A correctional officer who has gone viral on social media, exposing widespread sexual abuse, rape, and lawlessness in South African prisons, has reached the attention of the minister for investigation.

The video of the officer from Westville Prison in KwaZulu-Natal, who is dressed in uniform, was shared on TikTok and received 137k likes by Sunday. 

In the six-minute video he says: "I have seen in a lot of podcasts, ex-offenders are romantising being in jail, they make it seem like it is a holiday-inn. Don’t be fooled by them because these people are damaged, their hearts are traumatised, mentally and emotionally. Many of the offenders, they come into jail, without any chronic disease but then when they leave they have diseases. I have never heard of anal cancer until I worked at a prison because the anus is where they are penetrated by other men and also that is where they hide the contraband.”

Eune Oelofsen, spokesperson for Minister for Correctional Services Pieter Groenewald, said it would be too premature to comment on the matter.

“There is no confirmed receipt of any internal complaint directly to the ministry. The matter is still under departmental investigation. The ministry will be able to comment once all the facts are obtained.”

Prisoner rights activist and acting spokesperson for the South African Prisoners Organisation for Human Rights (SAPOHR), Golden Miles Bhudu, said they welcomed the whistleblowing, highlighting the issue of male rape.

“Sexual violence is one of the most pressing issues plaguing South African prisons.

“He is putting his career and job at risk, because the retaliation by his superiors could be devastating and stop his career, right there.

“In a 2007 survey by the Inspectorate of Correctional Services, about half of all inmates admitted that sexual abuse occurs either 'sometimes', 'often' or 'very often'." 

Bhudu said sexual violence in prisons remains an invisible issue, while the stigma of rape, when perpetrated against men and boys, contributes to making sexual abuse in prisons a taboo subject.

“Within these relations, one inmate assumes a dominant role and emasculates and feminises his victim through rape. Wanting to regain a sense of manhood."

He said it also posed a health risk for inmates.

“Since HIV is highly prevalent in detention facilities, high levels of sexual abuse has disastrous health implications, dangerously allowing for the spread of the virus inside as well as outside prison walls upon inmates’ release,” he said.

“SAPOHR in concluding, makes a passionate plea to the Minister, Deputy Minister, National Commissioner and the Office of the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee of DCS, in Parliament to protect the official that spilled the beans.”

Nicholas Gotsell, DA Member on Security and Justice said the portfolio committee held an oversight visit at prisons, which highlighted the reality behind bars. 

“We constantly see this criminality and how the crime in terms of drugs and gang activity are fuelled from within prison walls," he said.

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