R1.2 billion to refurbish Joburg's Sun City prison

The infrastructure at Johannesburg's Sun City prison is in dire need of an overhaul, says the department of correctional services (DCS).

- Jarryd Westerdale

The prison's population well exceeds the official capacity, with the strain becoming evident in the basic plumbing system.

A written response to a parliamentary question has shown that R1.2 billion is needed to give the prison a simple refurbishment.

ActionSA MP Dereleen James conducted an oversight visit to the prison last month before submitting her questions to the department.

James said the health conditions that the prisoners are subjected to were "shocking and hazardous".

She relayed how her team witnessed how the prison's basement kitchen where food is prepared for prisoners had been flooded due to collapsing plumbing.

The facility is forced to mechanically pump the water out of flooded areas and manually clear sludge from the pipes.