The South African Department of Correctional Services has expressed outrage and disgust after a video surfaced on social media showing an inmate boasting about the benefits of prison life.
In the video, the Zimbabwean inmate, identified as Bornface Banks, is seen wearing yellow prison gear and surrounded by other inmates.
**Banks, addressing the camera, says: “Hello haters, you put us in prison and think that we are suffering? No, my brother, we are doing extremely fine.”
He continues: “Look at how happy we are. This morning we had breakfast, and in the afternoon we had lunch. We are about to have dinner,” while laughing with other inmates.
Banks then boasts about the conditions in prison, saying: “We are doing extremely fine, we are not suffering at all,” and he lists the benefits he enjoys such as free toiletries, no rent, and no electricity bills.
In response to the video, a spokesperson for the Department of Correctional Services, Singabakho Nxumalo, said, “DCS is deeply incensed by this behaviour and there shall be strong action and consequences”.
Nxumalo explained that the man, Bornface Banks, is a Zimbabwean national remanded at Goodwood Correctional Centre for kidnapping allegations, and the video was filmed using a confiscated mobile phone.
Nxumalo added, “Mobile phones are defined as contraband in correctional centres hence illegal access and usage is a punishable offence,” emphasizing that there is no “soft life” in prison despite the inmate’s claims.
Watch video below…
Soft life in SA prison??🤔🤔 pic.twitter.com/8fQpB7tK0S
— MDN NEWS (@MDNnewss) July 15, 2024
