Sun City Prison Raid: Money, TVs, Cellphones, PlayStations, Laptops, Manicure Nail Kits, and Drugs Seized
In a significant operation on Wednesday night, the Department of Correctional Services officials, alongside police, conducted a raid at Johannesburg Prison, commonly known as “Sun City.”
The raid targeted a section of the prison housing medium-risk offenders and resulted in the confiscation of numerous luxurious items.
Also Read: Shocker as Former Prisoner Opens Up About They Used to Drink Roll-On Deodorant as Alcohol in Prison
Confiscation of Electronics and Contraband
During the raid, officials seized dozens of electronics, including cellphones, WiFi routers, PlayStation 4 consoles, and TVs.
Inmates were pulled out of their cells and thoroughly searched. According to National Commissioner Samuel Thobakgale, the operation uncovered several unauthorized items:
“There are offenders that have got television sets, but they could not produce permits for them to have those television sets.”
In addition to electronics, manicure nail kits, designer perfumes, lula lula toys, large quantities of marijuana, cigarettes, and smoking materials were discovered. Commissioner Thobakgale detailed how inmates managed to distribute these items within the prison:
“There are offenders who also have cords, and these cords are used to transport contraband through the cells.”
Check out the videos below;
I can’t believe all these items were confiscated at Sun City Prison 😭😭😭. Lord Pieter Groenewald is cooking 😭😭. We’ve never seen a raid taking place in prison before! pic.twitter.com/7eGixivjlh
— Slaughter. (@BafanaSurprise) July 24, 2024
If what occurred at Sun City prison is the first step, then I am pleased. The key now is to address the entire network:
1. Identify those who permit inmates to smuggle large items like TVs and PlayStations, and determine the repercussions they will face.
2. Determine the… pic.twitter.com/NJNSHlUmSy
— TK_Nala (@NalaThokozane) July 25, 2024
🌍 Raid at Sun City Prison in South Africa reveals numerous contrabands 🤔
A make-up kit, manicure nail kits, Playstations and flat-screen tv's, cellphones, designer perfumes and wifi-routers are just some of the items that were confiscated during a surprise raid at the Sun City… pic.twitter.com/3EoMSWSJ4s
— AfriStats and Polls 📊 (@afristats_polls) July 25, 2024
Legal Consequences for Inmates
Those found in possession of illegal items will face criminal charges in accordance with the Correctional Services Act.
The massive raid and confiscation comes after a Zimbabwean prisoner, Bornface Banks, incarcerated for a series of abductions in South Africa, recently went viral on social media after bragging about living comfortably in prison.
In a video, he boasted about the “soft life” in jail, claiming they receive free meals, toiletries, and education, who bragged about living comfortably in prison.
Hello, haters, you put us in prison and think that we are suffering? No, my brother, we are doing extremely fine. Look at how happy we are. This morning, we had breakfast, and in the afternoon, we had lunch. We are about to have dinner. We are happy…,”Banks stated, while laughing with other inmates.
His video sparked outrage and brought attention to the conditions and illicit activities within South African prisons.
Public Reactions
The raid’s findings have sparked a buzz on social media, with many expressing outrage over the inmates’ ability to obtain and use such contraband and for living such a cushy luxurious lifestyle behind bars.
@BafanaSuprise:
I can’t believe all these items were confiscated at Sun City Prison 😭😭😭. Lord Pieter Groenewald is cooking 😭😭. We’ve never seen a raid taking place in prison before!
@ms_tourist;
The jails are picnic sites during the day and hotels by night…. the videos didn’t lie. Prisoners are well looked after , fed and educated for free while NFSAS continue to show our deserving students flames
@teezthato;
We realy need to know who approved those permits to have a TV and what are the conditions given for a criminal to have such luxury