MK Party raises concerns over DCS's response to Prim's interview
Correctional Services officials are investigating how inmate Jermaine Prim was able to participate in a lengthy phone interview without approval.
Image: Bheki Radebe
As Parliament awaits a report from the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) regarding convicted inmate Jermaine Prim's media interview, the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) has expressed concerns about the DCS's response to the situation.
During a recent telephonic interview on eNCA, journalist Heidi Giokos questioned Prim about his ties to Gayton McKenzie, the leader of the Patriotic Alliance.
During Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee, which is probing allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lt-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, a letter from Prim was discussed in which he alleges McKenzie has connections to the drug trade.
McKenzie has repeatedly denied this. In a Facebook Live on Sunday night, he said that he had never met Prim and rejected claims that the two had any relationship.
McKenzie said that he could be accused of many things, but not drugs.
The DCS, meanwhile, said that it will be investigating how the interview was able to be conducted.
Jermaine Prim.
Image: Facebook / Supplied
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services, Kgomotso Anthea Ramolobeng, said they have noted the interview with concern.
Ramolobeng said the committee is concerned about the means of communication used by Prim to speak to the media house.
“I have seen the interview. It is quite lengthy with no interruptions. The question now remains: what instrument was used for this? We are all aware that cellphones are on the list of contraband.
“Furthermore, inmates are allowed phone calls from a pay phone, limited to 10 minutes per call, yet the interview was much longer. Further protocols exist for how those phone calls are done,” Ramolobeng said.
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee for Correctional Services Kgomotso Ramolobeng.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane / Independent Newspapers
The MK Party has, however, said that DCS's sudden alarm over “irregular interview” raises serious concerns about its motives, especially as the information discussed was already in the public domain.
“The information was previously shared through a sworn affidavit submitted to the Ad Hoc Committee and through a letter to Lt-Gen Mkhwanazi, following the MK Party’s attempt, which other parties voted against, to have Jermaine Prim testify.
“It is obvious that the department’s response is less about procedural breaches and more about managing public perception amid revelations of its systemic failures,” the MK Party said.
“Prim’s claims of accessing cellphones while incarcerated, facilitated by Minister Gayton McKenzie, reflect longstanding and widely acknowledged issues of contraband smuggling within correctional facilities.
“These are problems that the DCS has historically failed to address with similar urgency, therefore raising doubts about whether its current stance is aimed at accountability, or at containing reputational damage and shielding politically connected individuals,” the party said.
The MK Party said it has come to their attention that Prim has been “subjected to torture through electrocution by the Head of Prison at the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre, Mr Ntsizi Qebengu, and has been beaten and deprived of food for the past three days”.
“These constitute grave human rights violations requiring immediate intervention.”
Minister Gayton McKenzie.
Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers
The MK Party said they are calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa to suspend McKenzie, to allow for fair investigations in the wake of the aforementioned allegations.
They also want the Madlanga Commission to investigate the allegations and ensure that all those “fingered in this exposé be subpoenaed, including Prim as a witness”. They also wanted McKenzie to fully account before Parliament for his involvement in the allegations.
They also wanted the DCS to explain, through a public disclosure, the application of the ‘tool’ used to justify Prim’s placement in C-Max, “as well as its inconsistent approach to investigations and its newfound urgency in pursuing a ‘full-scale investigation’ despite years of documented concerns about the porous nature of South Africa’s correctional system,” the party said.
Asked to comment on the MK Party statement, DCS spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said: “The statement issued by DCS on Saturday stands.”