NACA boss claims ignorance on prison sex

Baboki Kayawe | Thursday June 8, 2017 16:01

Members particularly wanted to know whether the agency’s campaigns extended to prisons, where gay sex is reportedly rife.  Squeezed for an answer, Matlhare dithered on a direct response, before balking on whether NACA was aware of sexual escapades among inmates. 

“The (Defence, Justice and Security) Ministry is better placed to provide factual findings on whether there is sexual intercourse in prison. I would want to put evidence before the committee and hence I cannot give a yes or no answer,” Matlhare said. 

Other NGOs have pressed government to acknowledge prison sex, saying interventions such as those led by NACA need to extend to inmates in order to secure their health and also protect society after their release. 

PAC member and Selebi Phikwe West MP Dithapelo Keorapetse asked what NACA and government’s stance was on distributing condoms in prisons, a matter that has long been a hot potato in the public health sector.   Matlhare said a study had been carried out on the issue in partnership with the Defence, Justice and Security Ministry, but the findings had not yet been made public.  

Keorapetse, however, said it was worrying that NACA, as an entity tasked with providing advice on HIV/AIDS to government, was oblivious of issues that border on its mandate.   “Since inception as NACA, you don’t know whether there is sex in our prisons? This posture of trying to deny there is sex in prison is dangerous. 

The issue has been swept under the carpet and this is not right.  How do we expect then to fight and curb HIV/AIDS, especially in male prisons where anal sex is taking place?” he asked rhetorically.  

He further said evidence from academics in their interactions with prisoners, as well as two court cases and a former offenders group that is sensitising people about the dangers of going to prison, shows that sexual acts are rampant among inmates.  “You need to assess this policy of government being in denial of something that is clear,” he said.