THOHOYANDOU – The chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services, Mr Dennis Bloem, is not happy with the escalation of newborn babies in the Thohoyandou prison.

Bloem visited the prisons in the area as part of a programme to monitor overcrowding in South African prisons. Bloem was shocked to see 13 babies in the Thohoyandou prison. All the mothers confirmed that they had been arrested while pregnant and are now taking care of their babies while in prison.

Bloem was also upset to see two other pregnant women, waiting to give birth.

He said babies should not be allowed to experience prison life, because they are innocent. Most of their mothers have been arrested for crimes like pointing out others as witches or wizards, stealing soap or for malicious damage to property.

According to him, the mothers must be released on condition and they should be punished using a simple alternative like cleaning government offices, so that they will learn that crime does not pay. “Jail is for criminals who committed serious crimes like murder, rape and armed robbery.

“Last year when we visited Thohoyandou prison, we found about 2 763 prisoners and what is pleasing me is the reduction of prisoners to 2 527 to avoid over-crowding.”

“In Pretoria, instead of 40 inmates in the single cell, there are 79 inmates and this is a problem. Women are very sensitive about their privacy and the government must deal with this problem very urgently. The government is spending R140 per day per inmate,” he added.