TRC Final Report

Volume 5

Chapter 8

Subsection 7

Health care⁵

28 The Commission recommends that:

PRISONERS BE ALLOWED ACCESS TO MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS OF THEIR CHOICE (AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE).

International standards

29 The Commission recommends that:

THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES PUBLICLY REAFFIRM ITS COMMITMENT TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS OF PENAL REFORM AND ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO ENSURE THAT THESE STANDARDS ARE UPHELD.

SOLITARY CONFINEMENT AND OTHER FORMS OF ISOLATION, DEPRIVATION OF FOOD AND EXERCISE, AND OTHER CRUEL, INHUMAN AND DEGRADING TREATMENT BE ELIMINATED. IN THIS REGARD, THE COMMISSION NOTES WITH CONCERN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MAXIMUM SECURITY FACILITY KNOWN AS C-MAX, WHERE CONDITIONS OF DETENTION AMOUNT TO ALMOST COMPLETE SENSORY DEPRIVATION.

Public awareness and monitoring

30 The Commission recommends that:

LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL WATCHDOG ORGANISATIONS BE ENCOURAGED TO MAKE INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON PRISON CONDITIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA AND ELSEWHERE AND RECOMMEND STRATEGIES FOR PENAL REFORM.

AN INDEPENDENT MONITORING BODY, WITH STATUTORY POWERS, BE INTRODUCED TO MONITOR ALL PRISONS, POLICE CELLS AND OTHER PLACES OF DETENTION. THIS BODY SHOULD REPORT TO PARLIAMENT ON A REGULAR BASIS.

RESTRAINTS ON MEDIA COVERAGE OF PRISONS BE RECONSIDERED TO ENHANCE TRANSPARENCY ABOUT THE CONDITIONS IN AND MANAGEMENT OF PRISONS.

31 Responsibility for developing and implementing these recommendations, and for monitoring their implementation, rests primarily with:

a The Department of Correctional Services;

b The Department of Health;

c Professional organisations representing health professionals;

d Unions representing prison staff;

e Organisations representing the interests of prisoners.