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A video is doing the rounds on social media showing an inmate bragging that life in prison is more comfortable than his ‘haters’ think.

The prisoner tells his ‘haters’ not to worry about them being in prison because they have access to free food, three meals a day, unpaid electricity, and education, as well as access to a phone to do whatever the heck they like.

Although the Zimbabwean national Bornface Banks, remanded at Goodwood Correctional Centre for kidnapping allegations, is now in hot water for breaking the law as he was using a phone behind bars, the video has stirred a bit of outrage and a debate about the conditions of prison life.

Phones are defined as contraband in correctional centres in South Africa, hence illegal access and usage is a punishable offence. But despite these regulations, it is not uncommon for inmates to illegally acquire and use cell phones, often through corruption or smuggling.

Soft life in SA prison??🤔🤔 pic.twitter.com/8fQpB7tK0S

— MDN NEWS (@MDNnewss) July 15, 2024

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) confirmed that Banks would be taken through a disciplinary process for this overstep.

“DCS is deeply incensed by this behaviour and there shall be strong action and consequences,” said DCS spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo via IOL.

The inmate’s video attracted significant public criticism, with many expressing concern that prisoners are not receiving adequate punishment for their actions and are instead enjoying privileges that many law-abiding citizens can only aspire to, per The Citizen.

“With the current electricity rates alone… we are the ones in prison from the outside,” said one X user.

We would be remiss to forget that societal issues such as poverty, lack of education or employment opportunities, drug or alcohol abuse, exposure to others involved in criminal activity and mental illness affect the crime rate and subsequent inmate population.

So there is a small thought about how expensive and difficult life is in South Africa, with the unemployment rate at an all-time low, dragging otherwise good civilians into a life of crime to make it to the next day.

But that doesn’t mean prison should ever give a person bragging rights.

As the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) said, the core mandate of the DCS was rehabilitation and the facilities could not be seen as hotels.

“Part of what we have been striving for as a union is to ensure inmates do not idle around within out correctional facilities, and the fact that some might brag about living a soft life is demonstrative of the many challenges that still need to be addressed; issues like overcrowding and understaffing, gangsters and the availability of illicit items.

“What we have since called for is that the DCS should become self-sufficient by producing its own food, clothing and furniture. This, we believe, will skill and keep inmates busy, but will also reduce the current re-offending rate which is over 75%,” said Popcru spokesperson Richard Mamabolo.

While Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald is working closely with the national commissioner to improve conditions for advancing this core mandate, he has also warned that the budget cuts facing his department could affect security in prisons, nutrition for prisoners and the monitoring of parolees, per Business Day.

Little did this brazen inmate know, that life in prison was just about to get a whole lot worse…

[source:iol]