South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal has ruled that prisoners who are registered students have the right to have and use computers in their cells…as long as it’s for study.
A prisoner, Mbalenhle Sydney Ntuli, who is serving a 20-year sentence for robbery complained that his right to education was being infringed.
Per Ntuli’s reps, he was struggling to complete a data processing course because he could not have computers in his cell where he spends most of his time.
The plaintiffs argued that this contravenes Section 29 of South Africa’s Bill of Rights which provides prisoners with the right to future education.
The SCA unanimously voted that preventing the use of computers in cells is unconstitutional. The judges, however, gave conditions for use.
South Africa’s correctional services also have 12 months to revise all policies depriving prisoners of these rights.