WC female prison inmates raise concerns over food, cold showers and conditions

Reports of poor food, cold showers and difficult living conditions at a Western Cape women’s correctional facility have raised fresh questions about the day-to-day experience of inmates behind prison walls.

News24 reports that inmates at Worcester Female Correctional Centre say their complaints stretch back to June, with some describing themselves as increasingly frustrated by conditions at the facility.

Among their concerns are food they claim is sometimes stale or contaminated, pests, limited portions, cold water in the showers and the conduct of some correctional officials.

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS), however, disputes some of the claims and says the facility has systems in place to monitor food quality, hygiene and inmate complaints.

According to inmates who spoke anonymously, some meals have allegedly contained dead ants, cockroaches and flies.

Some also claimed to have experienced symptoms they believed were linked to the food.

They described portions as too small to last until the next meal, while breakfast reportedly sometimes consists of dry bread intended to sustain inmates for much of the day.

One inmate described the situation as leaving prisoners feeling hungry, with some asking relatives to bring additional food when they visit.

For those with money deposited into their prison accounts, the facility shop provides an opportunity to purchase toiletries and other items, including fast food, although this is only available periodically.

The complaints extend beyond the kitchen.

Cold water has reportedly become another major concern, particularly during the Western Cape’s colder winter nights.

The DCS has confirmed that there has been a problem with the facility’s geyser.

According to spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo, the geyser stopped working on 8 July and was repaired by contractors on 14 July, as per News24.

That repair did not last.

By 31 July, the geyser had developed a leak. Contractors returned on 13 August to assess whether it could still be repaired or would need to be replaced.

A memorandum requesting approval for a replacement was subsequently sent to the regional office.

In the meantime, DCS says hot water is being supplied daily in the courtyard, on a room-by-room basis and under the supervision of correctional officials.

The department says its review of available records found no recorded cases of inmates being treated for food poisoning or illnesses associated with stale or contaminated food.

Nxumalo said meals are prepared in the Food Service Unit by inmates assigned to kitchen duties, under the supervision of correctional officials and a food service supervisor.

Kitchen workers are screened before handling food and undergo further screening every six months.

The food service operation caters for approximately 1 903 inmates across the Worcester female and male correctional centres.

DCS says meals undergo daily quality checks, with food samples retained for 72 hours as part of its food-safety procedures. Municipal inspections are also conducted.

According to the department, inmates receive meals according to the approved 12-day DCS meal cycle and their applicable dietary requirements.

The complaints come against the backdrop of broader concerns about South Africa’s correctional facilities.

In September 2025, the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS) reported on a series of unannounced prison inspections conducted between April and June.

Of the 18 facilities inspected, 11 were rated satisfactory, six were rated good and one was rated unsatisfactory.

The Worcester male correctional facility was among those inspected on 12 June and was rated unsatisfactory.

JICS said the facility was severely overcrowded, operating at 221% capacity, with some inmates reportedly sleeping beneath beds and in passages. The inspection also raised concerns about dilapidated infrastructure and dirty cells.

Although those findings related to the men’s facility, they highlight the wider pressures facing correctional infrastructure in the region.

Concerns about conditions for women in South African prisons were also raised during a Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services meeting in April 2025.

The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) reported concerns around healthcare, overcrowding, infrastructure and the treatment of vulnerable inmates.

Among the issues identified were inadequate access to healthcare, inconsistent access to sanitary products and facilities affected by broken showers, leaking taps and mould.

The CGE also raised concerns about inmates with disabilities and the protection of LGBTQIA+ inmates, while highlighting gaps in staffing, policy implementation and responses to sexual harassment allegations.

Members of the committee called for urgent action, including infrastructure improvements and better treatment of female inmates.

Nxumalo said DCS was not dismissive of legitimate complaints and had mechanisms, including a complaints register, through which concerns could be recorded and assessed.

The department also said work opportunities were allocated according to security classification, suitability and availability, with inmates rotated to promote fair access.

On complaints about officials’ conduct, DCS said one inmate had reported being addressed inappropriately by a correctional official.

The official was counselled by the Head of Centre and acknowledged the guidance, according to the department.

DCS said that where allegations of misconduct are substantiated, appropriate action would be taken.

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Picture: Grant Durr / Unsplash

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