MEMORANDUM OK CONDITIONS OP HYGIENE AND MEDICAL ATTENTION AT THE JOHANNESBURG GAOL

1. MEDICAL ATTENTION:

From the limited experience obtained of the Medical

Officers at the Gaol, it would appear that these Officers are

not carrying out their functions properly.

(a) In terms of Section 93 of the Prison Regulations published

tinder Government Notice No. 1352 of the 28th August 1959 '• < *

Gazette No. 6275* every prisoner shall, as soon as possible after

reception, be examined by the Medical Officer, and the Medical*Officer shall report in detail on the physical and mental condition

of every prisoner as well as on such other particulars as may be

determined by the Commissioner. Similarly, in terms of Rule 12 (l)

of Government Notice No. 551, published in Gazette Extraordinary

of the 11th April I960, Gazette No. 6416, all detainees shall,

upon admission, be examined by the Medical Officer and thereafter

he shall visit them regularly.

The procedure in fact, adopted by the Medical Officers

in regard to the detainees, and from our peBsonal observations

in regard to other prisoners also, was as follows.

The detainee was called into the consulting room and

made by the warder to stand at attention near the Doctor's desk.

The Doctor remained seated at his desk and simply asked "is there

anything wrong with you". There was no examination whatsoever. We

may mention that in regard to African prisoners they are obliged

to strip and to queue up outside the Doctor's consulting room, in

full view of any other prisoners or prison personnel who may

happen to be around. This appears to be in contravention of other

Sections of the Prison Regulations, apart from it being degrading

and embarrassing to the persons concerned.

(b) The apparent inhibitions which these Medical Officers

have in regard to examining a prisoner appears, not only in regard

to the initial examination, but also when a prisoner actually

complains of being ill. On a number of occasions detainees com­

plained of sore throats, associated with colds etc., but apart

- PROM--------/

. s .from a cursory look at the detainee's throat, nothing further was

done i.e. temperature was not taken, nor pulse nor anything else.

On one occasion a detainee complained of a severe pain in his back

and the Medical Officer, without making any examination, simply

stated that it was lumbago and prescribed treatment for lumbago.

(c) Section 114 (2) of the Prison Regulations provide^ that

the Medical Officer shall regularly inspect the food, uncooked

and cooked provided for prisoners, and shall report to the Officer

Commanding on the quality and quantity thereof and also on the

quantity and condition of the water. During our stay at the

Johannesburg Gaol which was for approximately one month, we on

no occasion saw the Medical Officers inspecting the food or

kitchen in our section.

(d) In terms of Section 111 (2 b), fee Medical Officer shall

inspect the prison at least once a week. Throughout our stay at

the Johannesburg Gaol, the Medical Officers never inspected the

prison except on our insistence on one occasion.

(e) We were amazed and perturbed by the apparent lack of

concern of the Medical Officers. When we complained to them of

the conditions of hygiene in our section, we met with the response

that everything there was alright. That this was not so, will

appear sharply from the second portion of this memorandum.

(f) Connected with this aspect is the question of the access

to Medical Officers during the periods when they are not in

attendance at the Gaol. The normal hours of attendance appear to

be between 10.a.m. and 12 noon and thereafter apparently they

cannot be seen except in cases of emergency. No difficulty arises

in this connection up till approximately 4.30. p.m. when the

administrative offices of the prison are still open, and there is

free access for the warders from one section to another section and

to the administrative block. However, the procedure is that from

about 4.30.p.m. onwards, the night warder comes on duty #

He is not in possession of the keys of individual cells, and further­

more he is, himself, locked into the section and is not in possession

of the keys to the doors giving access to the section. He is,

- THEREFORE_____ /

therefore, completely cut off from the rest of the prison, and

his only contact with outside persons is with a special warder who

makes apparently hourly rounds of the prison. In cases of emergency,

including sudden ill health, he is supposed to have an alarm bell

at his disposal. The Medical Officers had assured us, that in the

case of sudden illness, there was a system whereby they could "be

communicated with, but on the one occasion when a detainee was

suddenly taken ill, it was found that the alarm was out of order.

It had apparently been out of order for some considerable period.

We may mention that awaiting trial prisoners are also kept in

the section where we were kept. The result of this is that

apparently, a Doctor cannot be called quickly because the warder

has to wait for the patrol warder to come around.

In addition, mention should be made of the lack of concern

shown by the warder on duty on that particular occasion. This is

mentioned because the warder being the only contact with the outside

world, his attitude and his alertness is, of course, of fundamental

importance in the cases of sudden emergencies.

2. CONDITIONS OP HYGIEUE:

In regard to the conditions of hygiene, we can do no

better than to quote in full a memorandum prepared by the detainees

while in prison, which memorandum was presented to the Medical

Officers as well as to the Superintendent. The memorandum was

prepared because of an outbreak of diarrhoea amongst the detainees,

eight cases being reported in one night. Where necessary,

additional comment will be added to the memorandum.

(a) "Although we have been largely isolated from the awaiting

trial prisoners in this section, the conditions of our detention

nevertheless lend themselves to the spread of infection from them/

to us and vica versa. We have no reason to believe that the out­

break amongst us has not also been reflected in conditions among

the awaiting trial prisoners, and we must assume that until

conditions are changed, we are all mutually dependent upon each

other for the maintenance of hygienic standards. We, ourselves,

have attempted to maintain the highest standard of hygiene possible

in the circumstances, but we have no knowledge of what standards

are or can be maintained amongst others held elsewhere in the prison

There does not appear to us to be any routine supervision of

hygiene standards or standards of personal cleanliness in so far as

prisoners are concerned". - Comment -

The mutual dependent* mentioned does not relate only to

the relations between the detainees and awaiting trial prisoners

who were, it is true, in close proximity to one another at the fort,

but there is a constant flow of prisoners from one section to

another and, in fact, hard labour African convicts work in te

kitchens and consequently this mutual dependence exists among all

sections of the prison population.

We have previously drawn attention to the fact that Medical

Officers are supposed to inspect the kitchens and the prison

regularly, but as pointed out above, we noticed no such inspections.

(b) "The specific unhygienic practises and conditions to

which we wish to draw your attention are as follows

(i) There are only four water closets and two urinal

stalls in this section to serve approximately 120 men.

By comparison, the Factories Act and Regulations,

prescribe one water closet for every 15 employees who

spend only approximately 8 hours per day on the premises

At least one lavatory is cracked, and the overcrowding

during the relatively short period in which any one has

access to these closets, prevents proper standards of

cleanliness being maintained".

5

- Comment - It should be noted that the figure of 120 men is

probably higher than usual owing to the presence of 30 detainees,

and I would say that normally there would only be about 100

awaiting trial prisoners. Many of these awaiting trial prisoners

are people of a rather low standard, who have no idea of hygiene.

They make an awful mess of the lavatories, but the mrders do not

attempt to make any attempt to force any standard of cleanliness

in the lavatories. The lavatories are cleaned only once a day i.e.

early in the morning, but during the course of the day they are

allowed to get into the most revolting state.

(ii) "During the periods we were locked in our cells,

amounting at weekends to some 20 hours per day,

we are forced to defecate in urinal pots in the cells,

and we have no facilities for washing of hands aid

scrubbing of nails after defecation. Pood is kept in

all cells in close proximity to the urinal pots.

As food purchases are restricted to one delivery

per week, much of this food is in open containers".

- COMMENT - The period of lock up applies geiBEily

to awaiting trial prisoners as well, although for the

last week of our stay we were allowed to keep ourselves

unlocked and more details will be given o f this below.

The pots, themselves, are made apparently of galvanised

iron, look awful, appear to be impossible to clean,

and some of them have thick coats of filth at the

bottom. Most of the a/aiting trial prisoners would not

carry much food in their cells except perhaps by way

of 3oaves of bread and water in their mugs. We, however,

did have a lot of food in our cells. In addition, no

beds are provided, although this is apparently required

by Prison Regulations. We slept on mattresses on the

floor and awaiting trial prisoners also sleep on

mattresses on the floor. Consequently, one is

- CONSTANTLY----- /

r ' - s .

constantly in close proximity to the urinal pots. Furthermore,

these pots are provided with lids, but in many cases the lids do

not fit properly.

(iii) "The urinal pots are carried down to the yard in

the morning through the hallway in which the cooked

food is being served and eaten. After emptying and

perfunctory sluicing in cold water, these urinal

pots are again carried through the aisle of the hall there are

where/food servers and food containers with food

carriers and urinal pot carriers mixing in confusion”.

COMMENT This position will probably not apply when the

detainees are not present and it arose because detainees and

awaiting trial prisoners ate at separate times and at separate places.

However, there is noi ho|r water with which to cleanse the urinal

pots, and the mere fact that during our stay the mixing as described

was allowed to take place a»et is bad enough.

(iv) "The urinal pots are placed in the yard in close

proximity to the tubs of water in which the food

dishes are washed. Periodically pots are also

stacked in the shower and wash room. There appears

to be no routine in force of the washing of hands

and scrubbing of nails by those handling the urinal

pots, who in many cases are also concerned with the

handling of food and the serving of food”, proper

QQUiELT: There are no/facilities for washing eating utensils.

Two large tubs of hot water are placed in one of the recreation

yards, and the awaiting trial prisoners, who in most cases are

dressed in filthy clothes, have dirty finger nails, and generally

are unkept and unclean, wash these dishes without being provided

with any detergent whatsoever. The tubs containing the hot water

are on the floor and the prisoners, after so-called washing the

dishes, place them on the floor next to the tubs. The urinal pots

both used by the detainees and those used by the awaiting trial

prisoners, are also placed on the floor of the recreation yard in

very close proximity to the food dishes. The prisoners concerned

- WITH-------/

with washing the dishes often also handle the urinal pots, and

there is a constant flow backwards and forwards between the two

kinds of utensils, without any attempt being made to enforce

washing after handling of the urinal pots.

As pointed out, the pots were periodically stacked in

the shower and wash room, and not only did this cause physical

discomfort, it also caused considerable mess on the floors. In

addition to the prisoners handling urinal pots and then dishing up

food, it should also be pointed out that during the first portion

of our stay, the awaiting trial prisoners handled our bread, dished

up the meat and vegetables and also the soup. It was not an

uncommon sight to see thumbs and other portions of their hands

inadvertently dipping into the soup and/or the meat and vegetables.are

As has been pointed out, these prisoners/normally in an unclean

state, and it is impoaible to gauge the extent to which they

contaminated the food.

(v) "The enamel food dishes themselves, almost withoux

exception, are badly chipped and ■crazed. These dishes

are washed in an open yard adjoining the water closets,

and the dishes used by the entire section are washed

in a single metal tub of hot water without soap or

detergents and without subsequent rinsing. No running

water whatsoever is used".

COMMENT: This portion has already been referred to. It should

be added that themugs provided were made of aluminium and contained

a lip around the upper edge which was impossible to clean properly.

In addition, most of the mugs were rusted, the food dishes were in

a shocking state, and when one says that they were chipped, this is

a gross understatement. Large portions of the enamel had flaked off

and as a result most of the dishes were not fit to be used by a dog,

let alone by human beings. The sppons provided were in most cases

plastic with a deep furrow running down the back of them in which

furrow food gathered, and due to the nature of the construction of

- THE--------/

7

the spoons they were almost impa-Bible to clean properly, particulary

in view of the fact that no hot water or detergents were available,

(vi) "So standards of personal cleanliness, nail

scrubbing or hand washing appears to be imposed

upon those awaiting trial prisoners who handle and

serve our food. We are unable to comment on the

standards maintained in the kitchen to which we had

no access, but consider that a source of possible

infection may well be present there since we

understand that the kitchen is staffed by prisoners

who live undee much the same unhygienic conditions

as ourselves".

COMMENT: The kitchen appeared to be staffed by African

convicts who were usually clad in dirty prison uniforms, and in

regard to whom there appears to be no better supervision concerning

their cleanliness. In addition, the kitchen itself is a most dis­

gusting sight. There are huge open doorways which are never closed

and apparently can't be closed, the food is stacked all around the

place, the vegetables are rarely properly cleaned, and in addition

are usually overcooked^ Vegetables as cabbage and cauliflower

assuming a dirty brown colour and exuding a most ghastly stench.

(vii) "The mugs supplied to us individually are rough

galvanized metal. The surfaces are not smooth

enough to allow easy cleaning, and in many cases

the galvanizing has not prevented the rusUng of the

surfaces. Not hot water or detergents are

available to us for the cleaning of these mugs".

(viii) The urinal pots are of galvanized iron with joints

and seams which trap both dirt and germs. For

purposes of disinfection complete reliance seems

to be placed on a shallow layer of disinfectant at

the bottom of the pots".

3. "The effect of diarrhoea contracted by a single occupant of

a cell cannot be limited to that person alone. All the occupants

of the cell are compelled to use the same pot with flushing, and

to live close to it for unbroken periods of confinement up to 16

hours. Apart from the general unpleasantness of such conditions,

including the necessity to sleep the night in the stench, the

infected person without facilities for washing of his hands, is

brought by the enforced proximity into constant contact with the

belongings, mug, food and person of his cell mates.

On the Saturday night referred to three out of four inmates

of one cell were affected by diarrhoea creating intolerable

conditions in that cell. Since we are detained here without charge

against us, and without any allegation that we have committed any

offence whatsoever, we regard these conditions as harsh, punitive

in character and completely indefensible from any public health

point of view".

4. "We wish therefore to impress that immediate consideration

"be given to raising the health and hygienic standards in the prison

to a level consistent with modern practice. In the meantime we

wish to make the following requests for immediate changes in the

conditions affecting us, namely

(a) That we be issued with our own individual food dishes

made either of plastic, aliminium or new unchipped enamel;

(b) That facilities "be made available for the proper washing

of these dishes including an adequate supply of running

hot and cold water and suitable detergents;

(c) Thtet the arrangements for the handling and serving of

our food be separated from those of awaiting trial

prisoners, and be entrusted to our own hands, and that,

close and continuous supervision of standards of hygiene

in the kitchen be maintained;

(d) That we he given our own separate water closet

accommodation, and that these lavatories be maintained in

a proper state of cleanliness including the supply of

proper brushes, harpic and cleaning agents;

(e) That urinal pots in our cells be used solely for the

purpose of urination, and that arrangements he made to

allow us to use the water closets for defecation during

those periods;

___________________________ - (fi— /

9

Since the onset of diarrhoea is often sudden that

each cell be provided with a bottle of — --------

for use as and when required;

Finally reference should be made that there is no

hot water available for bathing, but only ice cold water

in winter in showers the :?loors of which were normally

in a disgusting state;

Collection Number: A3299 Collection Name: Hilda and Rusty BERNSTEIN Papers, 1931-2006

PUBLISHER: Publisher: Historical Papers Research Archive Collection Funder: Bernstein family Location: Johannesburg

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