South Africa
Slavery to Imprisonment
South African Prison Labour. Photo Via. https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/history-prison-labour-south-africa. Accessed on December 9, 2021
South African Prison System
History
The South African prison system has a troubling history. South Africa, like most places, proposed prisons as places of punishment. Punishment was put into play through harsh prison labor that often was degrading and debilitating. As history progressed, starting around the 1800’s the narrative tried to be shifted towards prison being a place of rehabilitation and growth. Individuals argued rehabilitation could still be achieved through prison labor. The prison labor would help remind them of civilian work and hopefully one day allow prisoners to successfully reenter the community. Slavery was abolished in 1834, but cheap brutal labor continued inside and outside the walls of South African prisons. Throughout the 1840-50's prisoners' labor contributed to local projects (SA History). Prisoners' labor was not one stable job everyday. There was a wide variety of different forced labor prisoners would have to endure. A new demand for labor emerged upon the discovery of diamonds and gold. The De Beers Diamond Mining Company saw the opportunity to implement harsh labor for little to no cost in an unethical manner.
Prisoners performed labor in terrible conditions against their will. Some of the worst labor occurred on Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela spent the first 18 years of his imprisonment (SA History). Prisoners on Robben Island worked on quarries. Conditions were so brutal that prisoners within "Group D" were put into cages to prevent prisoners from attacking one another (SA History).
https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/history-prison-labour-south-africa
Historical Timeline of Apartheid in South Africa
Prison Conditions
South African prison conditions are inhumane and unethical. Overcrowding, mistreatment, and disease are just a few of the gruesome conditions inmates face inside South African prison facilities.
South African prison conditions are inhumane and unethical. Overcrowding, mistreatment, and disease are just a few of the gruesome conditions inmates face inside South African prison facilities.
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/9/7/139717632/img-1316_orig.jpg)
Infographic Sources: https://www.saferspaces.org.za/understand/entry/prison-violence-in-south-africa-context-prevention-and-response
https://www.prison-insider.com/en/articles/afrique-du-sud-pollsmoor-most-overcrowded-prison-in-the-western-cape?referrer=%2Fen%2Farticles%3Fpage%3D1%26country%255B0%255D%3Dza
Photo: Pollsmoor prison conditions. Photo Via https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/western-cape/pollsmoor-most-overcrowded-prison-in-the-western-cape-34658222. Accessed December 9, 2021.