Children in Prison in South Africa - Community Law Centre

for the climate and adequate to ensure good healthand which should in no manner be degrading orhumiliating. Juveniles removed from or leaving afacility for any purpose should be allowed to wear ""Every child has the right ...to appropriate alternativecare when removed from the family environment [andto] basic nutrition, shelter, basic health care servicesand social services, (SA CONSTITUTION, SECTION- 28)"Everyone who is detained, including every sentencedprisoner, has the right to conditions of detention thatare consistent with human dignity including at least... the provision at state expense, of adequate ...nutrition, reading matter and medical treatment".(SA CONSTITUTION, SECTION 35)Clothing"To the extent possible juveniles should have the rightto use their own clothing. Detention facilities shouldensure that each juvenile has personal clothing suitabletheir own clothing. " (UN RULES 36)The shortage and poor condition of clothing occursin almost every prison. This almost certainly affects thechildren's personal dignity and feelings of self-worth.Frequently/convicted children had been supplied withonly one set of clothes, sometimes two. AtOdi, manyof the inmates complained about being issued withonly one set of clothing, which they said made itimpossible for them to wash their clothes. At thisfacility, the researchers heard from the authorities thatmore clothing had been ordered.At Thohoyandou Prison, each child was issued with 'atleast one' set of ordinary green clothes. They are givensoap with which they must wash their bodies and theirclothes. Most seemed to be having difficulty in washingtheir clothes and appeared quite dirty, They told theresearcher that they either washed one piece at a timeat night or borrowed from those who have more itemsof clothing.