Prisons in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal are reporting that many inmates arrested for alleged looting and violence in the provinces two weeks ago have tested positive for Covid-19.
“Since we started receiving suspects arrested for looting, we have more inmates testing positive compared to officials,” correctional services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said on Tuesday.
Nxumalo said in the week of July 18 to 25, 336 inmates and 256 officials tested positive for Covid-19 in prisons across the country.
“That’s a lot. We don’t [usually] get so many cases in one week.”
Nxumalo said 1,813 inmates — 1,355 in Gauteng and 458 in KwaZulu-Natal — had been remanded in custody for allegedly taking part in the looting.