Studying inmates win against prison authorities

The Windhoek High Court on Friday set aside a decision by the Namibian Correctional Service (NCS) to confiscate the internet devices of prisoners who study online. This after 18 inmates from the Windhoek Central Prison, who are studying at various institutions, approached the court. The applicants alleged that in February, NCS members confiscated their laptops to install administrative passwords and then confiscated their dongles. The reason authorities reportedly took the devices away was because, in their opinion, they were no longer needed as Wi-Fi had been installed at the facility. Judge Herman Oosthuizen ordered that the decision to take the devices be reviewed and set aside.

He relied in his judgment on the law on correctional services, which in section 77(2), gives NCS Commissioner-General Raphael Hamunyela the authority to give any benefits to a prisoner as he sees fit.

Based on this, Oosthuizen found that the inmates who depend on the internet for their studies are authorised to use the devices.

- Kristien Kruger