Health fears over George court holding cells

Warning: Graphic content

GEORGE NEWS - Concerns have recently been raised over the appalling condition of the holding cell ablution facilities at the George court building, as several reports claimed the toilets and basins were blocked, filthy, broken and overall unhygienic.

It is also believed that the court orderlies have recently been expected to guard the detainees from inside the holding cells - locked in and having to sit in the same cell with them.

This practice forces them to use the same ablution facilities, even though more acceptable toilets and basins are available elsewhere in the court building. The arrangement has raised serious questions about the safety and wellbeing of the orderlies.

According to a source, it is believed some officers may already have contracted serious illnesses, including TB, as a result of the conditions they are faced with.

A media enquiry was sent to both the police and court management for a clarification on the state of the ablution facilities, the safety of the officers, to confirm whether any of these allegations were indeed true, whether any health complaints had been lodged, and what remedial action was planned.

Patricia Matomela, the court manager, said the matter concerns court orderlies and not court officials.

She said court orderlies do not report to her, and advised that the police should be approached for guidance regarding their responsibilities.

In turn, the Southern Cape Police's spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm Pojie, said proper consultation and intervention have been established with their counterparts to ensure minimum occupational health and hygiene standards are met.

"Be advised that the safety of our members remains a priority, as does their working conditions. The safeguarding of detainees is enforced through policy, standing orders, standing operational procedures as well as national instructions. The services intended to be implemented at the court are aligned with these prescribes to prevent escapes."

Pojie said the concerns that some officers might have contracted illnesses or infections as a result of their working conditions are totally unfounded, as there are no records to support such a notion, nor has any member reported this to station management.

"Members are advised to follow due processes and protocols when reporting their concerns or complaints," he said.

Foreign objects stuck in a dirty basin in the holding cells.