Broken pipes have resulted in taps running dry at Westville Prison since Sunday, sparking hygiene fears.
|||Durban - Broken pipes have resulted in taps running dry at Westville Prison since Sunday, sparking hygiene fears.
Several prisoners complained they had been unable to bathe or use toilet facilities in the past 48 hours.
Many claimed toilets were overflowing with faeces and they were forced to use plastic packets as makeshift toilets.
They said they were throwing the packets outside the cell windows.
“There are more than 60 of us crammed into a 20-man cell. We have one toilet for all of us to use. It is bad enough when the toilets can flush. Can you imagine the stink now that we cannot flush?” said one prisoner in the Medium B section.
He said prisoners were in need of baths.
“No one cares. We understand there is a problem with the pipes. But in the interest of hygiene they need to make arrangements to bring water in containers into the cells. If it continues like this for another day, all sorts of sicknesses are going to break out.”
Many complained that drinking water had also been restricted.
“We are drinking water that we have in bottles and flasks. If you don’t have any water then it’s tough luck – you have to remain thirsty or drink contaminated water in buckets outside the cells.”
The prisoners claimed their pleas for fresh water supplies had been ignored.
“We cannot wash our clothes or bedding. The cells are in a state. We are being bitten by bed mites. Our situation is pathetic. Someone needs to intervene to save us from this hell.”
Correctional Services’ Durban area commissioner, Hento Davids, said prisoners were not the only ones affected by the water problem.
“All of us that live on the prison grounds are suffering. We also don’t have water at our homes. It is inconvenient to us too. In fact, many of the warders had (only) enough water to wash their face and brush their teeth… But, they are not fussing. The problem is a big one but we are attending to it.”
Davids said the water problem was common in winter.
“This is nothing new. It happens every winter. When it’s cold the water pipes break. But we are working closing with the municipality to get the water supply restored.”
He said water trucks were on standby to ensure there was water for drinking and cooking.
“This is a major problem but we are hoping to sort it out in the next 24 hours. The prison is a huge place. It is not something we can sort out in a few hours,” Davids said.
He said prisoners had been informed of the problem.
“They are not in the dark. They know what is going on. Unfortunately they just have to be patient.”
By 7pm last night the water had still not been restored.
A prisoner said they were locked in at 3.30pm.
“When we asked for drinking water, the warders told us to be quiet. The stench in the cells is unbearable. It is even worse for those in communal cells.”
The inmate said while prison authorities had claimed water was available through tankers, it had not been made available to them.
“No one cares. Many of us are on chronic medication and do not have water to swallow pills. We are suffering.”
He added the water crisis had affected the entire operation at the prison, including the kitchen, laundry and hospital.
“Patients are languishing in the hospital without bathing. It is a sad state of affairs. Their condition is bound to get worse if the water crisis continues.”
Daily News
