Johannesburg - Overcrowding was one of the worst problems faced by prison authorities in Gauteng, according to provincial commissioner Zacharia Modise who testified before the Jali commission on Wednesday.

Modise told the commission, which began the first day of its public hearings on Wednesday as part of its investigation into corruption at prisons countrywide, that Gauteng prisons were severely overcrowded.

"We have the capacity to accommodate 25 242 prisoners, but the unlock as of Monday, March 17 was at 48 735," he said.

The Jali commission, which was appointed by President Thabo Mbeki, has already held hearings in Bloemfontein, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town.

Modise said that because of overcrowding, prisoners did not receive the treatment they were entitled to.

"The situation even though not acceptable is much better with regard to sentenced prisoners than with prisoners not sentenced yet.

"The biggest contributing factor is movement and the fact that rehabilitation programmes are being presented to sentenced prisoners," he said.

Aids

Providing medical treatment to prisoners was also a problem in the province, according to Modise.

"There is only one 24 hour health centre for prisoners in Gauteng, at the Pretoria prison," he said.

Modise said if prisoners required medical attention they had to be treated at state hospitals at a high cost to the department.

Investigations were currently under way to establish hospital facilities at least two other prisons, those being the Johannesburg Prison and Leeuwkop Prison.

Another major cause for concern was HIV/Aids, Modise said.

"Prisons were not equipped to deal with inmates who were critically ill with Aids-related diseases," he said.

Compulsory testing could assist prison authorities in dealing with the pandemic.

"It is my firm belief that testing will enable us to provide timeous intervention, medication and counselling as well as developing relevant strategies to effectively deal with the pandemic in our situation," Modise said.

He continues his testimony on Wednesday afternoon.