impasse
29 March 2006
The Department of Correctional Services has initiated interventions with
other government departments that would see HIV/AIDS infected inmates at the
Durban Westville Correctional Centre have access to identity documents (IDs)
and antiretrovirals (ARVs).
The Minister of Correctional Services Ngconde Balfour says the interventions
through the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Health, Ms Peggy Nkonyeni, and Department of
Home Affairs are aimed at ensuring that the inmates are able to receive
treatment at accredited sites.
Nutritional meals for HIV/AIDS infected inmates are being provided in the
meantime. Home Affairs officials will also attend to the issue of getting IDs
for inmates before they could access ARVs.
It is very irresponsible for some groups inside and outside prisons to
instigate for a hunger strike by HIV/AIDS infected inmates, particularly those
within a very low CD4 count, knowing very well that their health condition will
instead deteriorate, says the Minister.
The Minister cares a lot about the health of inmates but will not in anyway
be intimated or blackmailed to be irresponsible and distribute ARVs and IDs as
this will be against policy directives and legislation regarding the provision
of such services.
It needs to be emphasised therefore that Correctional Centres are not
accredited ARV sites and therefore cannot dispense such medication to
willy-nilly inmates. Our role is to transport inmates in need of such services
to accredited sites and home affairs offices where such services are
provided.
It is also the responsibility of home affairs to process applications for
IDs upon payment of R35 by individuals, so DCS officials have never at any
stage, demanded inmates to pay money for such a service. Inmates have a
tendency to exaggerate issues.
Inmates receive gratuities for work they perform in correctional centres, so
that they are able to pay for other essentials and basic needs, including
application for IDs. For a long time, inmates have refused to apply for IDs
fearing that this process may uncover further charges they may have committed,
thus, leading to further prosecution. It is ironic that they are now demanding
IDs and creating an impression that this has been refused in the past. We do
applaud them for realising that this is now essential for receiving government
benefits.
The Minister therefore takes exception to accusations that the Department is
"playing God with the lives of inmates". Such irresponsible statements are
devoid of truth and are dismissed with the contempt they deserve.
Luphumzo Kebeni
Director: Media Liaison
Ministry of Correctional Services
Tel: (021) 462 2314
Fax: (021) 465 4375
Cell: 082 453 2244
Issued by: Department of Correctional Services
29 March 2006
