South Africa's most secure prison, C-Max, is allegedly being used as a centre to plan criminal activities. The Pretoria News has established that there have been a number of serious security breaches at C-Max prison over the past six months.
The breaches include the smuggling of cellphones and dangerous weapons into the prison where awaiting-trial prisoners are being held.
The latest discoveries occurred last week, when cellphones were found hidden in the cell of a suspected bank robber and in a fire extinguisher housing.
Among the awaiting-trial prisoners are two groups of suspected bank robbers, the suspected Jeppestown police killers and the Boeremag accused.
The Boeremag accused are held in the prison's C-Section, while 25 other awaiting-trial prisoners are held in A1-Section.
Those awaiting trial for bank robbery are suspects in the 2005 FNB robbery at Menlyn Square and the 2006 Selby FNB robbery in which R46-million was stolen.
Information the Pretoria News has reveals that police have been investigating suspects awaiting trial for the Selby robbery for allegedly using cellphones smuggled into the prison to plan the theft of their dockets from the Johannesburg High Court, which was burgled earlier this year.
No arrests have been made in connection with the burglary. Their dockets were indeed stolen, but this will not impact on the case since police had copies. The breaches, which were revealed by well placed Correctional Services sources, have been occurring since March.
The discoveries occurred when two cellphones, a Samsung and a Nokia 6120C, and a cellphone charger were recovered on March 11, from Menlyn Square robbery suspects, Ignatius Selokane and Phillip Lekgau.
A prison official, who asked to remain anonymous, said the two were among a group of 25 awaiting-trial inmates who were transferred from the main section of Pretoria Prison to C-Max on February 22, for allegedly bribing more than half of the warders at that section.
In June three cellphones, all Nokia 1200s, were recovered in cells in A1 Section, while in July a screwdriver was discovered in the showers in A1 Section.
"The screwdriver was glued to a wall next to a window in such a way that it was difficult to find if you did not know where to look," said the source.
The source said one of the cellphones found this week was discovered in the cell of one of the suspected Selby bank robbers while the other was found in the housing of a fire extinguisher in a passage.
The cellphones were a Nokia 2100 and a Nokia 1200.
"Both of these were also found in the A1 Section," he said, adding that it was clear that those receiving smuggled goods were awaiting trial prisoners facing possibly lengthy prison terms.
"There are major security breaches occurring, but it seems nothing is being done about it.
"We have tried to raise our concerns with management at the prison, but we are constantly ignored. It is only a matter of time before a serious incident, such as the one which claimed the life of C-Max head Thomas Gomba occurs again."
Gomba and warder Alpheus Ndiniza were killed during an escape attempt from C-Max in November 2004 after inmates using a gun, smuggled into the cells allegedly by corrupt warders, tried to break free.
Two inmates died in the attempted escape.
He said more and more contraband was being smuggled into the prison. "It is just a matter of time before more weapons come into the prison for use in escapes," he said.
Adding that police had visited the prison shortly after the Johannesburg High Court burglary in search of evidence linking the Selby bank robbery accused to the theft, the source said they were convinced that cellphones were being used in the court break-in, and other crimes.
Benzi Soko, Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) spokesperson, who is also a former correctional services officer, said the department needed to completely overhaul its prison security measures.
"While we know that the smuggling of items such as weapons, cellphones and drugs into other prisons is rife and happens on a daily basis, it is appalling that it is happening at C-Max.
"We are worried and call for the department to take urgent action," he said.
Despite repeated telephone calls and emails to the Correctional Services Department, the department had not responded to questions put to it by the time of going to press.
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