The state of our prisons and what this reveals about our society

Abstract

Twenty years after transition to a constitutional democracy, South Africa faces major challenges in almost very aspect of life, ranging from meeting daily subsistence requirements for all its citizens, through providing access to education and primary healthcare, to the functioning of our legal system and governance from local to national levels. The state of medical care in our prisons, once a high-profile issue, has been eclipsed by these challenges. Yet the state of our prisons remains a barometer for these challenges, and on the anniversary of Steven Biko’s death in prison it is appropriate to be reminded of this legacy and its implications.