The Bill of Rights requires humane conditions of detention – including "adequate medical treatment". Government is obliged to secure these entitlements, writes former Constitutional Court judge Edwin Cameron.
Edwin Cameron is the Inspecting Judge of Correctional Services and a member of the GroundUp board.
At last at long, long last Covid-19 vaccinations are happening. The pharmacist who gave me the flu jab described her joy and relief at being vaccinated. Every vaccinated healthcare worker not only gets personal protection against Covid but protects patients from infection by them. In the coming months, this beneficent circle of protection will spread. But as we yearn for quicker roll-out as a sixty-plus, I registered instantly on the government site some thorny public health, ethical, political and economic questions demand our attention.
Human rights storm brews as government’s decision draws flak, with many questioning the move 07 January 2021 - 18:52
Government’s announcement that convicted and awaiting trial prisoners including murderers, child molesters and rapists will be among the first South Africans to receive the Covid-19 vaccine is sparking controversy with some questioning the reasoning.
In a move welcomed by Lawyers for Human Rights and correctional services unions, health minister Zweli Mkhize announced on Sunday that prisoners would be among the first people in SA to be vaccinated against the deadly disease.
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