WeeklySA_AdminSTRIP SEARCH: First seven days will be the most difficult
By Ali Mphaki
Tick tock tick tock the clock is slowing ticking for former president Jacob Zuma to hand himself over to a police station of his choice to start his 15 months’ prison term.
According to the Department of Correctional Services, the first thing that is going to happen upon arrival is that Zuma the prisoner will be taken to the admission area for processing by the DCS staff.
Processing takes on average between three to six hours.
He will then be photographed. This will be followed by a strip search as all prisoners are strip searched to ensure prison safety and prevent contraband.
The strip search is done in a “dignified” way by staff of the same gender. Zuma will be provided with the opportunity to shower and provided with clean prison clothing and shoes.
He may be placed in a holding cell whilst staff are processing the prisoner. Everything worn by Zuma including jewellery and rings will be processed, catalogued and put in storage.
The secure bag from the holding cells will also be processed at this time. Prohibited items including mobile phones will not be kept in storage.
Msholozi must arrange for family member or a close friend to claim the items otherwise they will disposed of after two weeks. Mobile phones must be collected within 7 days.
The former president will provided with the opportunity to make a phone call to family member or friend at the end of the admission process. One phone call lasting 10 minutes in duration can be made at this time.
Prescribed medication will also be assessed by the health staff. Only medication approved and identified by prison doctors and nurses will be allowed into the prison Money is removed from the secure bag and processed into the ‘prisoner trust account’. Zuma will be taken to the cell blocks and accommodation units. Prisoner placement is based on assessment of any special needs or risks identified.He will be provided with a plate or bowl and cup for meal times and bedding and hygiene items.
A provision pack with coffee, tea, sugar and cutlery will also be made available to him.
What is of interest is that a prisoners’ cell is chosen on availability and they may have to share their cell. It’s not clear what’s going to happen to Zuma, but he is likely to be in the C category of prisoners…
The department advises that the first seven days are the most difficult.
This is often due to:
• a loss of personal freedom
• separation from the people they love and care about and from the issues that they are dealing with
• fear, uncertainty and doubt.
How do you survive your first time in jail? (though this does not seem to apply to Zuma), the department advises one to try and stay calm and not be overwhelmed.
Rather than thinking about the sentence as an insurmountable time period, break the experience down into short, attainable goals.
Be observant and aware of surroundings while respecting other inmates’ needs for privacy
