DCS hopeful it will end cellphone smuggling in prisons

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) says efforts are being made to find ways to stop cellphones from being smuggled into prisons. This is amid allegations that serious crimes are being orchestrated from prison facilities.

The department’s statement follows earlier reports which suggested it intended to place signal and cellphone jammers near St Albans Prison in Nelson Mandela Bay.

The department says it can’t use signal jamming because ordinary citizens will be affected, as well as emergency services.

Correctional Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo says they are close to finding a solution.

“Inmates do not use these cellphones just to communicate with their people. But at times, they will be planning illegal activities. They will even use them maybe to go to other sites to do other things.”

“You will remember how embarrassing it was when it was discovered that others were even registering for the R350 social grant and all other things using these mobile phones. So as a department, it will be necessary that we find a solution that can assist,” adds Nxumalo.

Below is the full interview with Singabakho Nxumalo: