DA welcomes new prison uniform

[MickeyD]

The Democratic Alliance on Sunday said it welcomed the news that awaiting trial prisoners would be provided with prison uniforms that would differentiate them from convicted inmates.

"Remand detainees are often held for long periods with only the clothes on their back, and no means to obtain clean clothes," said DA MP James Selfe in a statement.

The Sunday Times reported that the correctional services department would be providing a total of 44,000 prisoners at 243 correctional centres with new yellow uniforms. The colour choice will differentiate them from convicted prisoners who wear orange uniforms.

According to the newspaper, the project is expected to cost R31 million, with prisoners sewing the uniforms from fabric supplied by a private company.

"The DA believes that these prisoners awaiting their day in court should be treated with dignity, as is consistent with correctional services policy and our constitution," said Selfe.

Source : Sapa /ml/jje
Date : 18 Jan 2015 13:14

 

[nightjar]

......According to the newspaper, the project is expected to cost R31 million, with prisoners sewing the uniforms from fabric supplied by a private company.

There's the essence of it.
Follow 75% of the money back to the deployed comrades in the racket.

 

[D3athD00r]

There's the essence of it.
Follow 75% of the money back to the deployed comrades in the racket.

Partly correct. But they should have those uniforms. Imagine if you falsely accused awaiting trial. Sure, they not all falsely accused, but they aren't convicted.

 

[MickeyD]

But they should have those uniforms. Imagine if you falsely accused awaiting trial. Sure, they not all falsely accused, but they aren't convicted.

I also support this change. Should have happened years ago...

 

[TEXTILE GUY]

Now, if we can just enforce LOCAL PROCUREMENT ... some cadre may not unduly benefit from this move ....

 

[nightjar]

Partly correct. But they should have those uniforms. Imagine if you falsely accused awaiting trial. Sure, they not all falsely accused, but they aren't convicted.

No question and I agree with you 100% but, once they are in the prison, they essentially have no rights irrespective of the gear they might be wearing. I remember several cases where awaiting-trial (male) prisoners were raped in the vans between the prison and the court.

 

[D3athD00r]

No question and I agree with you 100% but, once they are in the prison, they essentially have no rights irrespective of the gear they might be wearing. I remember several cases where awaiting-trial (male) prisoners were raped in the vans between the prison and the court.

1 of the goals is keeping them away from the convicted which should help minimise rapes.

FYI Prisoners do have rights. Basic human, health care, education and voting rights.

 

[LaraC]

44000 people sitting and doing nothing for society. Government should rather put them to work.

 

[TEXTILE GUY]

Prisoners do have rights. Basic human, health care, education and voting rights.

Will never understand this ^^ - One human can take another s rights away by criminal means, but not in any just or legal means??
So, if the ANC want to win an election, they simply KILL the opposition .... ?

 

[MickeyD]

Will never understand this ^^ - One human can take another s rights away by criminal means, but not in any just or legal means??
So, if the ANC want to win an election, they simply KILL the opposition .... ?

That will be the orange lot....

The yellow lot still have to be convicted.

 

[cr@zydude]

This is nice to see from the DA. They recognised a good ANC move, and congratualted them on it. Maybe politics doesn't have to be childish.

 

[Compton_effect]

Nice idea. Does the uniforms have a bullseye on the back, in case the accused decides to forgo the trial?

 

[Hemi300c]

It'll make it more difficult to escape as so many do and also hopefully more difficult to conceal weapons.
I'd like the huge cost to be audited because R31bar is huge and the clothing can be washed and used again and again.
What private company is this supplying the material and who owns it?

 

[Mila]

// waits for first prisoner to cry discrimination.


This is a good idea. If it goes down without a hitch I will be surprised.

 

[The_Ogre]

The best option would be to let the convicted prisoners make these uniforms!

 

[cr@zydude]

The best option would be to let the convicted prisoners make these uniforms!

That is happening, and was in the Sunday Times article about the uniforms.

It's strange though, when I searched for the article on Times Live, all I could find was the DA's reaction.