A new report by CNN reveals the inhumane treatment of inmates in South Africa’s most notorious prison: Pollsmoor, in Cape Town.<\/p>\n
CNN’s David McKenzie reported that some of the cells in the prison are at more than 300% overcapacity, having been given exclusive access into the prison.<\/p>\n
A single cell, designed for 19 people, contained 86 detainees – McKenzie reported – adding that all the inmates shared a single toilet and shower.<\/p>\n
Acting head of Pollsmoor Remand, Cecil John Jacobs, told CNN that the treatment of prisoners was inhumane before adding: “we don’t invite any offender here, they come here because they do alleged crimes.”<\/p>\n
Some of South Africa’s most dangerous criminals are held in Pollsmoor Prison, including the numbers gangs: 26s, 27s and 28s.<\/p>\n
With more than 4,000 inmates, Pollsmoor Prison\u2019s awaiting trial section is wildly overcrowded.<\/p>\n
In September 2015, two prisoners died and many others were deemed to be at high risk of exposure to an infectious disease spread by a rodent infestation at the Tokai institution.<\/p>\n
Groundup<\/a> noted that in 2015, Constitutional Court Judge Edwin Cameron released a report<\/a> following a visit to the prison, pointing to the poor state of the facility.<\/p>\n