11. Eve~ipn:oner must be given the opportunity to exercise sufficiently in order to remain healthy and is entitled to at least one hour of exercise daily. If the weather permits, this exercise must take place in the open air. H e a l t h mre 12. (1) The Department must provide, within its available resources, adequate health care services, based on the principles of primary health care, in order to allow every prisoner to lead a herdthy life. (2) (a) Every prisoner has the right to adequate medical treatment but no prisoner is entitled “to cosmetic medical treatment at State expense. (b) Medicd treatment must be provided by a medical oficer, medical practitioners or by a specialist or health care institution or person or institution identified by such medical officer except where the medical treatment is provided by a medical practitioner in terms of subsection (3). (3) Every prisoner may be visited and examined by a medical practitioner of his or her choice and, subject to the permission of the Head of Prison, may be treated by such practitioner, in-whch event the prisoner is personally liable for the costs of any such consultatiod:w’xtination, service or treatment. (4) (a) ’Every prisoner should be encouraged to undergo medical treatment necessary for the maintenance or recovery of his or her health. (b) No pfis~er may be compelled to undergo medical examination, intervention or treatment “without informed’ consent unless failure to submit to such medicd examination, intervention or meatrnent will pose a threat to the health of other persons. (c) Except as providd in p~agraph (d), no surgery maybe performed on a prisoner without his or her informed consent, or, in the case of a minor, with the written consent of his or her legal guardian. (d) Consent to surgery is not required if, in the opinion of the medical practitioner who is treating tie-prisoner, the intervention is in the interests of the prisoner’s health and the prisoner is unable to give such consent, or, in the case of a minor, if it is not possible or practical to delay it in order to obtain the consent of his or her legal guardian. Contact with community 13. (1) The Department must encourage prisoners to maintain contact with the community and enable them to stay abreast of current affairs. (2) The Department must give prisoners the opportunity, under such supervision as may be necessary, of communicating with and being visited by at least their spouses or partners, next of kin, chosen religious counselors and chosen medical practitioners. (3) In dl circurnstinces, a minimum of one hour must be allowed for visits each month. (4) If a prisoner is not able to receive visits from his or her spouse, partner or next of kin, the prisoner is entitled to be visited by any other person each month. (5) A prisoner who is a foreign national must be allowed to communicate with the appropriate diplomatic or consular representative or, where there is no such represen- tative, wl~’ a diplomatic representative of the state or international organisation whose task it is to protect the interests of such prisoner. (6) (a) On admission to a prison and after transfer to another prison, a prisoner must notify his or her next of kin that he or she is being detained in a particular prison, and if— 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 B No. 19522 Act NO. 111, 1998 GOVERN~~ G-~, 27 NO-ER 1998 COWCmONM SERVICB Am, 1998 (i) the next of hn are urdmown, tie prisoner may notify any other relative; (ii) the prisoner does not wish to notify his or her next of tin, the prisoner must indicate this to the Head of Prison. (b) The Commissioner must ensure that dl reasonable steps are &en to enable a prisoner to notify tis or her next of tin in terms of paragraph (a) and, if necessary, steps 5 must be ttien to notify his or her next of hn on his or her behalf. (c) (i) In the case of a prisoner who is a child, the Commissioner must notify the appropriate state authorities who have statutory responsibility for the education and welfare of children as well as the parents of the prisoner when this is required in terms of paragraph (a). (ii) If no parent is available, the Commissioner must notify the legal guardian and if the legal guardian is not available the next of tin or other relative must be notified. 10 (iii) A prisoner who is a child may not refuse to allow notification. (d) If requested by the spouse, partner or next of tin, the Commissioner must as soon as practicable, with the written consent of the prisoner, give particulars of the place 15 where the prisoner is detained. Religion, betief and opinion 14. (1) A prisoner must be allowed freedom of conscience, religion, thought, belief and opinion. (2) Apnsoner may attend religious services and meetings held in the prison freely and 20 voluntarily and may have in his or her possession religious literature. (3) Where practicable, places of worship must be provided at every prison for prisoners of dl religious denominations. (4) No prisoner maybe compelled to attend religious services or meetings or to tie part in religious practices. Death in prison 25 15. (1) Where a prisoner dies and a medical practitioner cannot certify that the death was due to natural causes, the Head of Prison must in terms of section 2 of the Inquests Act, 1959 (Act No. 58 of 1959), report such deati. (2) Any death in prison must be reported forthwith to the Inspecting Judge who may 30 carry out or instruct the Commissioner to conduct any enquiry. (3) The Head of Prison must forthwith inform the next of tin of the prisoner who has died or, if the next of tin are utiown, any other relative. Development and support services 16. (1) The Department may provide development and support services even when 35 not required to do so by this Act. (2) In dl instances, when the Department does not provide such senices, the Commissioner must inform prisoners of services available from other sources and put prisoners who request such services in touch with appropriate agencies. Access to legal advice 40 17. (1) Every prisoner is entitled to consult on any legal matter with a Iegd practitioner of his or her choice at his or her own expense. (2) The ~nister may, by regulation, impose restrictions on the manner in which such consultations are conducted if such restrictions are necessary for the safe custody of prisoners, but legal confidentiality must be respected. 45 (3) The Head of Prison must t~e reasonable steps to enable prisoners to exercise the substantive rights referred to in section 6(3). 26 No,,i~522 GOW~ G~ 27 NOWER 1998 Act No, 111,1998 CO~~ONfi SERWC~ ACT, 1998 (4) Prisoners factig trial or sentence must be provided with the opportunities and facilities to prepare their defence. R-ding material !, ., 18. (1) Every prisoner must be allowed access to available reading material of his or her choice, unless such matenrd constitutes a sectity risk or is not conducive to his or her rehabilitation. (2) Such reading material may be drawn from a library in the prison or may be sent to 5 the prisoner’from outside the prison in a manner prescribed by regulation. Children 19. (1) (a) Every prisoner who is a child and is subject to compulsory education must 10 attend and have access to such education programmed. (b) Where practicable, d] children who are prisoners not subject to compulsory education must be allowed access to educational programmed. (2) The Commissioner must provide every prisoner who is a child with social work services, religious care, recreational programrnes and psychological services. (3) The Commissioner must, if practicable, ensure that prisoners who are children remain in contact with their families through additiond visits and by other means. Mothers of young children 20. (1) A female prisoner may be permitted, subject to such conditions as may be prescribed, -to have her child with her until such child is five years of age. (2) The Depmment is responsible for food, clothing, health care and facilities for the sound development of the child for the period that such child remains in prison. (3) Whe~ practicable, the Commissioner must ensure that a mother and child unit is available for the accommodation of female prisoners and the children whom they may be permitted to have with them. Complaints and requests 21. (1) Every prisoner must, on admission and on a daily basis, be given the opportunity of making complaints or requests to the Head of Prison or a correctional official authorised to represent such Head of Wson. (2) The official referred to in subsection (1) must— (a) record all such complaints and requests and any steps taken in dealing with them; (b) deal with complaints and requests promptly and inform the prisoner of the outcome; and (c) if the complaint concerns an alleged assault, ensure that the prisoner undergoes an immediate medical examination and receives the prescribed treatment. (3) If a prisoner is not satisfied with the response to his or her complaint or request, the prisoner may indicate this together with the reasons for the dissatisfaction to the Head of Prison, who must refer the matter to the Area Manager. (4) The response of the Area Manager must be conveyed to the prisoner. (5) If not satisfied with the response of the Area Manager, the prisoner may refer the matter to the Independent Prison Visitor, who must deal with it in terms of the procedures laid down in section 93. 15 20 25 30 35 40 28 No. ‘19522 GO~;G~27 NO-U 1998 Act No. 111,1998 CO~~ONti SERVICW Am, 1998 Eart B Dkcipline ,, General 22. (1) Discipline md order must be maintaind’ with ~ess but in no greater measure than is necessary for security purposes and good order in prison. (2) In case of any conviction in a court of law for an offence committed by a,person whilst a prisoner, the Department, on the strength of such conviction, may witiout any further inquiry t&e disciplinary action in terms of tiis Act. (3) Disciplinary action may be t&en against any prisoner, even though criminal proceedings may be pending or in progress against such prisoner. (4) No prisoner must in any way be involved in the implementation of any disciplinary measures. Disciplinary infringements 23. (1) A prisoner commits a disciplinary infringement if he or she— (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) f) (g) (h) (i) (j) (k) (1) (m) (n) (0) (P) (q) (r) (s) (r) replies dishonestly to legitimate questions put by a correctional official or other person employed h a prison; disobeys a lawful command or order by a correctional official or fails to comply with any regulation or order; is abusive to any person; fails or refuses to perform any labour or other duty imposed or authorised by this Act; is careless or negbgent with regard to any labour or duty imposed or authorised by this Act; uses insulting, obscene or tieatening language; conducts himself or herself indecently by word, act or gesture; commits an assault; communicates with any person at a time when or a place where it is prohibited; m&es unnecessary noise or causes a nuisance; without permission leaves the cell or other assigned place; in any manner defaces or damages any part of the prison or any article therein or any state property; possesses an unauthorised article; commits theft; creates or participates in a disturbance or foments a mutiny or engages in any other activity that is lkely to jeopmdise the security or order of a prison; professes to be a member of a gang or t&es part in gang activities; m&es a dishonest accusation against a correctional official or fellow prisone~ conceals, destroys, alters, defaces or disposes of an identification card, document or any issued article; commits an act with the intention of endangering his or her life, injuring his or her health or impairing his or her abifity to work or attempts to do anything referred to in tiis seetion. (2) A prisone~ who assists, co~spires with or incites another person to contravene a provision of subsection (1) cornmitsa disciplinary .tiringement. Procedures and penalties 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 24. (1) Disciplinary hearings must be fair and may be conducted either by a disciplinary official or a Head of Prison. (2) A hearing before a Head of Prison must be conducted informally and without representation. At such hearing the prisoner must be informed of the allegation against him or her and have the right to refute the allegation. 50 30 No. 19522 GOw~-G~, 27 NO._~’1998 Act No. 111, 198 COWC~ONM S~VIC~ ACT, 1998 (3) Where the hearing tkes place before the Head of Prison, the following penalties may be imposed severally or in the alternative: (a) a reprimand; (b) a loss of gratuity for a period not exceeding one month; (c) restriction of amenities not exceeding seven days. (4) At a hearing before a disciplinary official a prisoner— (a) must be informed of the allegation in writing; (b) has the right to be present throughout the hearing; (c) has the right to be heard, to cross-extine and to call witnesses; and (d) has the right to be given reasons for the decision. (5) Where the hearing t&es place before a disciplinary official, the following penalties may be imposed severally or in the alternative: (a) a reprimand; (b) a loss of gratuity for a period not exceeding two months; (c) restriction of amenities not exceeding 42 days; (d) in the case of serious or repeated infringements, solitary confinement for a period not exceeding 30 days. 5 10 15 (6) The penalties referred to in subsections (3) and (5) maybe suspended for such period and on such conditions as the presiding official deems fit. (7) (a) At the request of the offender proceedings resulting in any penrdty other than 20 solitary confinement must be referred for review to the Commissioner. (b) The Commissioner may confirm or set aside the decision or penalty and substitute an appropriate order for it. Solitiry confinement 25. (1) A penalty of solitary confinement must be referred to the Inspecting Judge for 25 review. The Inspecting Judge must within three days, after considering the record of the proceedings and a report from a registered nurse, psychologist or the medical o5cer on the health status of the prisoner concerned, confirm or set aside the decision or penalty and substitute an appropriate order for it. (2) The penalty of solitary confinement may only be implemented when the 30 Inspecting Judge has confirmed such penalty. (3) A prisoner in solitary confinement must be visited at least once every four hours by a correctional 05cial, once a day by the Head of Prison, and his or her health assessed once a day by a registered nurse or psychologist or a medical 05cer. (4) Solitary confinement must be discontinued if in the view of the registered nurse, 35 psychologist or medical 05cer it poses a threat to the physical or mental health of the prisoner. Part C Securi~ Safe custody 26. (1) The right of every prisoner to personal integrity and privacy is subject to the limitations reasonably necessary to ensure the security of the community, the safety of correctional 05cials and the safe custody of all prisoners. (2) In order to achieve these objectives and subject to the limitations outlined in sections 27 to 35, a correctional o5cial may— (a) search the person of a prisoner, his or her property and the place where he or she is in custody and seize any object or substance which may pose a threat to the security of the prison or of any person, or which could be used as evidence in a criminal trial or disciplinary proceedings; (b) t~e steps to identify the prisoner; (c) classify prisoners and allocate segregated accommodation, including single cells; (d) apply mechanical means of restraint; and (e) use reasonable force. 40 45 50 32 No. 19522 , GOVERNM~~, 27.NOWB~ 198 Act No. 111, 1998 CORMC~ONU SERVIC~ ACT, 1998 Swrches 27. (1) The person of a prisoner may be searched by a manual search, or search by technical means, of the clothed body. (2) Upon reasonable grounds, the person of a prisoner may be searched in the following ways: (a) A search by visual inspection of the naked body; (b) search by the physical probing of any bodily orifice; (c) a search by ting a body tissue or body excretion sample for analysis; (d) a search by the use of an X-ray machine or technical device, by a qualified technician, if there are reasonable grounds for beheving that a prisoner has swallowed or excreted any object or substance that may be needed as an exhibit in a hearing or may pose a danger to himself or herself or to correctional officirds or to the security of the prison; and (e) by detaining a prisoner in a manner prescribed by regulation for the recovery by the normal excretory process of an object that may pose a danger to himself or herself, to any correctional official to any other person or to the security of the prison. (3) A search of the person of a prisoner is subject to the following restrictions: l (a) the search must be conducted in a manner which invades the privacy and undermines the dignity of the prisoner as little as possible; (b) a correctional official of the same gender as the prisoner must conduct the search and correctional officials of the other gender must not be present; (c) dl searches must be conducted in private; (d) searches contemplated in subsections (1) and (2) must be authorised by the Head of Prison but searches in terms of subsection (2)(b), (c), (d) and (e) must be executed or supervised by a registered nurse, medical officer or medicd practitioner, depending on the procedure necessary to effect the search. (4) A correctionrd official or person conducting a search in terms of this section may seize anything found. Identification 28. (1) To ensure safe custody the following steps maybe taken to identify a prisoner: (a) the taking of finger and palm prints; (b) the taking of photographs; (c) the ascertaining of external physical characteristics; (d) the taking of measurements; and (e) referral of the prisoner to the medical officer to ascertain the age of the prisoner. The prisoner may request that, at his or her own expense, his or her private medical practitioner be present at an investigation referred to in paragraph (e). (2) Identification data obtained in this way must be included in the prisoner’s personal file. (3) If as a result of ascertaining the age of a prisoner in terms of subsection (1)(e) or for any other reason it appears to the Head of Prison that the court’s determination of the age of the said prisoner is incorrect, the Head of Prison may remit the case to the court concerned for a reappraisal of the prisoner’s age. Security classification