Najwa Petersen and her three co-accused have received prison sentences ranging from 28 to 10 years. Here's what a prison day looks like.
What does a normal day look like in one of South Africa’s prisons? Do they still sew mailbags? What’s on the menu? What sort of exercise possibilities are there? What are the chances of getting a single cell?
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Horror stories abound about prison gangs, rape, warders who turn a blind eye and desperate overcrowding. Especially in the prisons for men.
But prison routines and activities vary for different categories of prisoners, and depending on factors such as the number of staff on duty, whether it’s during the week or the weekend, how many prisoners there are and so on.
According to the books, this is what a day in prison is supposed to look like:
Wake-up call
At seven o’ clock cell doors open and warders do the first roll-call for the day. By that time prisoners are supposed to have washed, dressed themselves and cleaned their cells.
There is no smell of bacon and eggs as inmates are marched to breakfast. They are greeted with a spread of porridge and coffee or juice.
The next meal will be served at 11 o’ clock. Lunch consists of a form of meat or protein, a starch and a vegetable.
Daily activities
All inmates are required to attend programmes aimed at rehabilitation. There is an emphasis on sports activities and education and training. However, this tends to be largely theoretical.
While inmates may also be obliged to work, fewer than 10% have this opportunity. And while it is required that inmates have at least one hour of exercise per day, this might not happen when there is a shortage of staff.
Prisons for women are less crowded and better managed than those for men, simply because there are fewer female prisoners. Female prisons also provide more work opportunities.
Single cell?
Most prisons have single and communal cells. A double cell is rare. Some prisons have triple cells. Communal cells house anything from 24 to 80 prisoners.
Inmates can apply to be assigned to a single cell. Factors such as whether you are studying and whether you might be in danger from the other prisoners are taken into consideration. Most prisoners land in a communal cell.
Visits
Visitation for sentenced inmates depends on the category in which they are classified. Visits can be limited to twice per month for twenty minutes. Some of these visits can also be exchanged for telephone calls. Access to incoming and outgoing post is unlimited, but it is subject to censorship.
Healthcare
Access to healthcare is severely limited. In most cases healthcare officials are not available. District surgeons are sometimes only available once a week.
Prison staff members generally don't have the capacity to administer drugs to inmates.
Another recurring problem is that medication has often reached its expiry date. In fact, access to healthcare is purely theoretical in most instances.
Lock-up
At 3 o’clock inmates have their last meal of the day. The menu for supper varies – mostly it consists of six slices of bread and a beverage of some sort. Inmates are escorted back to their cells to finish their meals there.
The last roll call for the day is done and inmates are then locked up. For the remainder of the day and night inmates are left to their own devices.
(Source: Information from DA spokesperson for Correctional Services, James Selfe. Several attempts to contact government spokespeople for Correctional Services failed.)
(Leandra Engelbrecht, Health24, updated December 2008)
Whatever sentence she has got, it won' t bring back Taliep. He was one of the greatest treasures of the SA music scene ever. - Sandra H
2036
2009/02/11 12:26:23 PM
That' s when she' ll get out - if there is no parole. I know what she did was evil, but that' s a long time. - Anonymous
2036
2009/02/11 12:55:15 PM
She shoud have thought about that before she planned to have him killed. - Ilse D
She deserves it...
2009/02/11 01:04:49 PM
She deserves what she got. She planned to have him killed and she acted like the victim all through the case.... I' m glad she got a tough sentence. - PM
Taliep
2009/02/11 01:07:12 PM
She is getting what she deserved. This will also send the right message to the rest of th country on crime. Crime does NOT pay! - Sbo
THE FRUITS OF SIN
2009/02/11 01:17:09 PM
THE CHOICES WE MAKE ARE GUIDED BY THE CONSEQUENCES THAT WILL FOLLOW. THIS MEANS THAT SHE KNEW THE CONSEQUENCES OF HER ACTIONS MAY LEND HER IN HOT WATER. I REST MY CASE. - MJOMANA
Taliep
2009/02/11 01:33:13 PM
I think the sentence is fair. She should have considered the consequences before she callously had her husband murdered. Justice has been done. - Janine
Trial by media
2009/02/11 01:43:44 PM
Another case of trial by media. She never stood a chance as soon as her famous husband died. So much emotive rubbish was spouted in the papers, the judge never had a choice but to find her guilty - whether she was or not. - Sixkay
Taliep
2009/02/11 01:47:56 PM
I believe the sentence was very lenient she sould have got life. I sometimes wonder if peoples lives are really valued considering the Crime statistics in our Country, - Ram Ramanand
Taliep
2009/02/11 01:53:20 PM
Too lenient sentence should have two life sentences.please throw the key away. - Rajen Govender
life
2009/02/11 01:57:35 PM
I don' t think 28 years is enough of a penalty to deter future murderers...... - Johnson
Taliep
2009/02/11 02:01:09 PM
I feel so sad for her children they must live with this horrible incident people will always look at them and remind them of this ordeal our thoughts will always be with them. - pieter
28 Years for murder??
2009/02/11 03:41:44 PM
I never followed the case, I read some articles but that' s about it. What really gets to me is that she got 28 years for taking someone' s life. Like Ram said, what is your life really worth?? 28 years in prison? Surely if you take someone' s life, your life should be taken away from you. BRING BACK THE DEATH PENALTY !!!!! - Amber
Not Impressed
2009/02/11 04:05:47 PM
An eye for an eye ? A tooth for a tooth ? What about a death for a death ? Still cannot comprehend that someone can kill another human being and then be protected from the same fate ? For what ? It is proven that in countries where the death penalty is served, crimes are much much less !! Why does SA think they are above this " workable" Law ? - Karen
Deserves life in prison
2009/02/11 04:07:34 PM
28 yrs? Is that all?? - Tazzy
deserves death panelty
2009/02/11 07:32:46 PM
28yrs,good behaviour,remission and maybe pardon if zuma arrives or reduced sentance.islamic law would do justice.najwa you will still pay on the day of reconing you evil witch - sharaz
promotion of murder
2009/02/12 04:07:04 AM
28 years and she is out of prison to live to kill another human being? This sentence does not condemn planned husband murders and other crimes - kg
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