- Inmates arrested during the recent unrest in Gauteng and KZN are quarantining in prisons.
- They are being kept from interacting with inmates already in the system.
- The department is currently vaccinating inmates and prison officials.
Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola has lambasted critics who say the government is prioritising inmates ahead of the country's population.
Lamola said such criticism was unfounded.
"Inmates aged 60 and above have participated in the vaccination programme. Those aged 50 and above have also been vaccinated. The reality is that we must go further than that to reach herd immunity.
"We are part of essential services. Our officials are performing essential duties. Even when people are striking outside, our officials remain at work. Both inmates and officials need to be vaccinated.
"Officials interact with society after and before work daily. Should there be an outbreak in a correction facility, it will affect surrounding communities. We are not only protecting inmates and officials, we are protecting the entire society," Lamola said.
#VaccineRollOutSA Minister Lamola being vaccinated at the Johannesburg Prison @TeamNews24 pic.twitter.com/Vkf9YMRJpG
— ntwaagae Seleka (@ntwaagae) July 20, 2021
He added that they were chasing the 10 August vaccination deadline set by the health department.
"By Monday, a total of 1 509 inmates and 61 educators in prisons were inoculated. About 1 325 healthcare workers in prisons have been vaccinated, and about 1 899 officials have also been vaccinated.
"There are WhatsApp groups encouraging inmates not to vaccinate. However, inmates are excited and jovial to participate in the vaccination programme.
Kept apart
"There are those who are sceptical and we hope, when they see others taking the jab, they will be encouraged to come forward."
Lamola said all those arrested for the unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng were being treated differently, so as to prevent the virus from spreading in prisons.
"We have experience of managing inmates coming in and out of our facilities. Some have shown symptoms, others have tested positive. They are all kept in isolation.
"All those arrested recently (for looting) are quarantining together. We don't mix them with inmates that are already in the system. Those coming in now have their places to quarantine.
"Inmates who participated in riots and looting, and suspect that they might be positive, must present themselves to our health officials. We are preventing the spreading of Covid-19 in our facilities," Lamola said.
The department is managing the escalating number of inmates.
Lamola said if the numbers continue increasing, they will find ways to control it, in order to avoid an outbreak.