Yet, because this is not a popular issue, there is a frightening silence and lack of action when it comes to reforming these institutions and addressing the needs and concerns of those incarcerated in them. The South African Prisoners Organisation for Human Rights (SAPOHR) attempts to fill this vacuum. SAPOHR was formed in Modderbee Prison in 1988 by political and "common law" prisoners. A Nationa
l Office was opened in 1992 by Golden Miles Bhudu, who is now the organisation's Chief Executive Officer. SAPOHR is a politically and religiously non-aligned organisation concerned with the creation of a non-racial, non-sexist human rights culture in South Africa. Our area of work is reform of the apartheid criminal justice system. SAPOHR performs many functions including prison watchdog, public voice and representative of prisoners. We are the voice of the continuing prisoners of apartheid. Our membership is now above 10,000 individuals, most of whom are prisoners, many of whom are ex-prisoners. "Massive changes are required in criminal justice in South Africa... The present system of justice remains marred in its apartheid trappings. It is a system which is still largely administered by white South Africans for a clientele which is overwhelmingly non-white." - Commonwealth Observer Mission to SA Violence in South Africa Report, May 1993 "Few physical structures provide more graphic mouments to the era of apartheid than South Africa's police stations, court houses and prisons... The criminal justice system, already discredited by decades of association with the structures of apartheid, has lost the confidence of most South Africans. It is a system which is still largely administered by white South Africans for a clientele which is overwhelmingly non-white." - Commonwealth Observer Mission to SA Violence in South Africa Report, May 1993
SAPOHR's Mission Statement
To address the legacy of the apartheid criminal justice and prison systems and contribute to a culture of human rights and social justice in a non- racial, non-sexist democratic South Africa. SAPOHR's Objectives
To reform and democratise the "Correctional Services" and "Criminal Justice System" of South Africa. To address human rights abuses in South African prisons that have been brought about by a system of apartheid, and to promote human and civil rights of suspects, prisoners, ex-prisoners and their next-of-kin. To act as a voice of suspects, detainees, prisoners, ex-prisoners and their next-of-kin; to bring attention to their plight and to respond to needs for reform, justice, reintegrative training/education and employment. To identify and target specific needs groups including those most disadvantaged by apartheid; women, youth, the ill, elderly and disabled. To forge links and working relations with other community based on non-government organisations to coordinate and strengthen our services and reform.
