Katlego Sekhu
According to reports, since the introduction of a new meal plan as part of cost-cutting measures, inmates in South Africa’s prisons have complained of hunger and poor-quality food.
South Africa operates under a restorative justice system, meaning that human rights are not suspended for prisoners. Instead, the focus is on rehabilitation to reintegrate inmates into society. However, this process requires significant time and resources.
In light of these developments, the Siz The World team posed a thought-provoking question to its listeners: “Should prisons provide better-quality food to inmates? Do prisoners have the right to complain about food quality?”
Mfundo Mabalane emphasised, “South Africa has an obligation to care for prisoners—even those awaiting trial. This obligation stems from our Correctional Services Act, which was promulgated in 2004. The act established a human rights-based framework for our prison system. “We cannot ignore this responsibility. We must ensure that prisoners are well-fed in terms of nutrition and receive proper medical care if needed.”
Mpho Maboi questioned if this should be a priority right now, considering the growing financial strain on taxpayers.
“Just last week, we were discussing the budget and identifying areas where savings could be made. Unfortunately, this might be one of those areas. In some instances, we could even encourage prisoners to become more self-sufficient in managing their own nutrition.
“When you consider this, what are we really complaining about? There are countless people who wake up early every morning, work long hours, and return home late at night, yet they don’t have access to meals like these.
“That’s where the disparity lies for me. Hearing complaints about food quality from individuals who have committed crimes can feel morally problematic.”
Sizwe Dhlomo added, “This is why some people argue that prison can become an incentive to commit crimes. In some cases, life inside prison might seem better than the reality many face outside.”
Sol Phenduka echoed this sentiment, saying, “Many South Africans don’t even have three meals a day. While I understand that our justice system is restorative and aims to rehabilitate, we must also consider that some people outside prison are living on as little as R370 per month.”
Full the full discussion, listen to the podcast.
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