Jailed students drag authorities to court
• Claims ‘will damage diamond company’s reputation’
Sixteen inmates at the Windhoek Central Prison who are trying to complete their degrees have approached the Windhoek High Court, claiming that the Namibian Correctional Service (NCS) is deliberately hindering their studies.
They claim that their internet devices and desks were confiscated, and launched in an urgent application for them to be returned.
Rodney Shaningua, an inmate and final-year law student at Stadio, said in his statement that the Windhoek Central Prison's senior education officer, Robert Naundobe, admitted to him that the NCS is trying to reduce the number of students in detention.
"[Naundobe] also mentioned that they were told to introduce these restrictions to frustrate and discourage [students] so that they abandon their studies,” it read.
NCS Commissioner-General Raphael Hamunyela denied the allegations.
"The respondents do not want to hinder the study efforts of the [students]. On the contrary, the respondents want [them] to continue and complete their studies so that they can integrate more effectively into society once they are released. After all, this is the purpose of rehabilitative imprisonment."
Hamunyela also denied the students' claims that they cannot continue with their studies. According to him, Wi-Fi was installed at the Windhoek Central Prison in 2022, and it is the same Wi-Fi that is used in all government offices, ministries and even courts.
"The [students] are therefore not in immediate danger of failing or missing online lectures, tests or activities. These are simply false and exaggerated claims,” he said.
Fishrot accused get ‘special treatment’
In court documents, Shaningua claimed that the decision to take away their devices comes as a result of the NCS ‘giving in’ to demands made by the Fishrot accused.
“We are aware that they have threatened to go to court if they are not allowed to have internet devices and Gmail email accounts. Because the NCS was willing to give in to the demands of these defendants, they had to impose the restriction on us.
"As a result of the demands by these defendants [Fishrot], we, the students, find ourselves at the short end of the stick,” his statement read.
He further claimed that since their desks have been confiscated, they are forced to work on their laps - while the Fishrot defendants are allowed desks and chairs in their cells.
"The favouritism and preferential treatment that is not even hidden is shocking, and it appears that the NCS will appease the demands of these accused at all costs."
Hamunyela denied that the Fishrot accused are getting special treatment, and said no prisoner is authorised to have a desk in their cell.
"I deny that the [students] are legally entitled to chairs and desks in their units. I submit that the desks and chairs found in their units were unlawfully smuggled in by them, having been gradually stolen from the common study area over the years. The removal of these items is therefore necessitated to maintain the status quo," he said.
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They claim that their internet devices and desks were confiscated, and launched in an urgent application for them to be returned.
Rodney Shaningua, an inmate and final-year law student at Stadio, said in his statement that the Windhoek Central Prison's senior education officer, Robert Naundobe, admitted to him that the NCS is trying to reduce the number of students in detention.
"[Naundobe] also mentioned that they were told to introduce these restrictions to frustrate and discourage [students] so that they abandon their studies,” it read.
NCS Commissioner-General Raphael Hamunyela denied the allegations.
"The respondents do not want to hinder the study efforts of the [students]. On the contrary, the respondents want [them] to continue and complete their studies so that they can integrate more effectively into society once they are released. After all, this is the purpose of rehabilitative imprisonment."
Hamunyela also denied the students' claims that they cannot continue with their studies. According to him, Wi-Fi was installed at the Windhoek Central Prison in 2022, and it is the same Wi-Fi that is used in all government offices, ministries and even courts.
"The [students] are therefore not in immediate danger of failing or missing online lectures, tests or activities. These are simply false and exaggerated claims,” he said.
Fishrot accused get ‘special treatment’
In court documents, Shaningua claimed that the decision to take away their devices comes as a result of the NCS ‘giving in’ to demands made by the Fishrot accused.
“We are aware that they have threatened to go to court if they are not allowed to have internet devices and Gmail email accounts. Because the NCS was willing to give in to the demands of these defendants, they had to impose the restriction on us.
"As a result of the demands by these defendants [Fishrot], we, the students, find ourselves at the short end of the stick,” his statement read.
He further claimed that since their desks have been confiscated, they are forced to work on their laps - while the Fishrot defendants are allowed desks and chairs in their cells.
"The favouritism and preferential treatment that is not even hidden is shocking, and it appears that the NCS will appease the demands of these accused at all costs."
Hamunyela denied that the Fishrot accused are getting special treatment, and said no prisoner is authorised to have a desk in their cell.
"I deny that the [students] are legally entitled to chairs and desks in their units. I submit that the desks and chairs found in their units were unlawfully smuggled in by them, having been gradually stolen from the common study area over the years. The removal of these items is therefore necessitated to maintain the status quo," he said.
– [email protected]
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