New super prison on the cards

parliament - correctional services minister ngconde balfour announced a plan for a "super max security prison of south africa" on tuesday.

addressing parliament's correctional services portfolio committee after the rape and assault of two nursing staff at baviaanspoort youth detention facility outside pretoria, and the escape attempt of a pollsmoor prisoner, balfour said the new prison would be "state of the art."

he described his intention to upgrade the existing prison at kokstad, kwazulu-natal, into a super maximum prison.

he said only specially vetted staff of "high calibre" would be employed at the facility.

"we really need to move into that direction," he said.