PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
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FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO: 451
Mr P B Mnguni (Cope) to ask the Minister of Correctional Services:
1) Whether his department has investigated the (a) nature of complaints
that led to the hospitalisation of five inmates at the Kalafong
Hospital in Atteridgeville and (b) treatment of 40 other female
offenders from Pretoria Female Correctional Centre in early March
2013; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) what is the condition of food hygiene in prison facilities (a) at the
specified centre and (b) nationwide?
NW604E
REPLY
(1)(a) Yes, inmates reported ill with fever, diarrhoea, vomiting and
abdominal cramps.
(b) Eighty seven (87) inmates were treated internally an additional
five (5) inmates were referred to Kalafong Out-patient Unit for
treatment and were discharged the same day.
The matter was reported to the Gauteng Provincial Department of
Health. The Gauteng Provincial Department of Health then reported the
matter to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) on
27 February 2013 and the NICD subsequently sent a team to investigate
the matter.
On 28 February 2013 the Environmental Health Practitioner (EHP) from
the local municipality visited the Centre and conducted a thorough
inspection in the food service unit, and took samples of the food that
was prepared that day. The analysis report of food samples taken for
testing is still awaited.
The outsourced service provider also submitted food samples for
analysis to a private laboratory.
(2)(a) The Centre referred to was in an acceptable condition as
standards complied with the required prescribed legislation and
policies.
(b) Nationally, the general standards of food hygiene are within
acceptable standards. The number of confirmed food-related disease
outbreaks for the 2012/2013 financial year to date was nil. Personal
hygiene inspections are conducted daily during unlock on food
handlers. An 11-point hygiene checklist is utilized in all food
service units to conduct and record findings of weekly hygiene
inspections.
The following directives are implemented to maintain hygiene standards
and practices in food service units:
i) Nutritional Services Policy Procedure Manual.
ii) Food Services Cleaning Guide.
ii) Personal Hygiene Procedure Manual.
iii) Manual for Food Handlers.