Prisoners complain over officers' abuse

INMATES at St Alban's Prison in Port Elizabeth in South Africa have complained of bad treatment from authorities.

Daily Sun reported that the prisoners claim to have been assaulted with batons by warders after they started a hunger strike on Monday.

They said they are locked up in their cells all day without any chance to exercise or study. The inmates allegedly don't get proper medical attention and have no access to rehabilitation programmes.

St Alban's Prison is described by authorities as the most violent prison in the Eastern Cape. Even the warders are complaining about their safety.

A prisoner said they are not going to stop their hunger strike until prison officials take them seriously.

"We sent many complaints to the prison head about our poor living conditions but nothing has been done. We are now appealing to the minister of correctional services to intervene. If he doesn't we will continue until our demands are met. We are human beings and can't live like this."

Area commissioner Mandla Jam denied there is a hunger strike at the prison. He said there were some problems but they have been resolved.

"All the inmates have eaten their food," he said.

He didn't specify what the problems were.