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The Eastern Cape department of social development has been accused of neglecting its workers and juveniles at detention centres by not providing them with enough personal protective equipment (PPE).
Workers based at two juvenile centres in Bhisho and East London say the department has delayed supplying them with masks and other protective gear.
Eastern Cape children’s rights advocate Petros Majola has also weighed in, saying those in power should never have allowed this to happen. .
But the department says it is doing everything in its power to keep officials and juveniles safe, and has provided equipment.
Officials who spoke to DispatchLIVE on condition of anonymity this week, fearing they could lose their jobs, said not having the requisite equipment not only put their own lives at risk, but particularly those of the young offenders.
They said they used public transport to get to and from work, meaning they mixed with many members of the public.
One East London official said: “We are facing a situation where we are at risk of contracting this virus. This is a reality as this is growing in the country. Our department is at the forefront of fighting this but they are failing to provide the basic service to their own staff members.
“We did get gloves, but not masks, and there are no sanitisers. You look at the security, they have none. The department should also think of providing us with transport so we can stop using taxis just for this period of the lockdown. We are essential workers. This will help prevent any eventualities.”
Another official said juveniles were not given any protective gear.
“This is bad for these young offenders and those who are based at the juvenile centres. Even the security guards have no masks, nothing. They don’t even have sanitisers,” the official said.
DispatchLIVE drove past the East London centre and saw a number of staff members without any protective gear.
Juveniles were also playing soccer on the sports ground. None were wearing masks.
DispatchLIVE reported this week that inmates at the Mdantsane prison were also playing football in the prison yard. No social distancing was practised. Two videos of the scene on Monday were leaked to DispatchLIVE and verified by the department of correctional services, which has launched an investigation.
By Bongani Fuzile – DispatchLive