Zimbabwean Inmate’s Viral Video Sparks Controversy in South African Prison
A Zimbabwean inmate, Bornface Banks, has ignited a storm of controversy after a video featuring him flaunting the comfortable conditions of his incarceration in a South African prison went viral. Banks, who is being detained on kidnapping charges at Goodwood Correctional Centre, appears in the video expressing contentment with his life behind bars.
According to an online report by News 24, Banks provoked authorities with his comments about the amenities he receives at no cost while in detention. In the footage, Banks, clad in yellow prison attire and surrounded by fellow inmates, waved to the camera and addressed his detractors, saying, “Hello haters, you thought we would suffer in prison? No, we are doing really well.”
Banks elaborated on his daily routine, underscoring the benefits of prison life: “This morning we had breakfast, then lunch in the afternoon. We’re about to have dinner. We’re not suffering at all.” He enumerated free toiletries, rent-free accommodation, and no electricity bills as some of the perks he enjoys. The video also captured laughter among the inmates, highlighting their apparent well-being.
Singabakho Nxumalo, spokesperson for the Department of Correctional Services, confirmed Banks’ identity and condemned the video. “He is a Zimbabwean national held at Goodwood Correctional Centre on kidnapping charges. Following a search, a cellphone was confiscated. The Department condemns this behavior and will take strong disciplinary action,” Nxumalo stated.
Nxumalo reiterated that mobile phones are contraband in correctional facilities, and their unauthorized use is a punishable offense. He stressed that despite Banks’ claims, prison life is not easy.
This incident has raised concerns about the management of contraband and the portrayal of prison conditions in South Africa.