The Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) has hailed a Constitutional Court ruling that significantly alters inmates' access to education by allowing personal computer use within prison cells.
In a unanimous judgment delivered on April 30, 2025, the court upheld a previous ruling from the Supreme Court of Appeal, declaring the Department of Correctional Services' blanket prohibition against computers in correctional centres unconstitutional. The case was brought forward by Mbalenhle Sidney Ntuli, represented by LHR.
“The Constitutional Court has correctly recognized that access to further education and the tools required for it is fundamental to upskilling incarcerated persons and setting them up for a successful life following their release,” said Nabeelah Mia, Head of the Penal Reform and Detention Monitoring Programme at LHR.
“This is a vindication of our client's rights, who, at the end of the day, only wanted to further his education and increase his capabilities. We hope that no incarcerated student seeking to upskill themselves must undergo what Mr. Ntuli has experienced,” Mia added.
At the heart of the case was Ntuli’s challenge as an inmate enrolled in computer studies. He argued that the total ban on using personal computers in cells infringed on his constitutional right to further education, as outlined in Section 29(1)(b) of the Constitution, which mandates that the state must progressively offer education. The court found this outright prohibition to be not only a violation of this right but also an unjustified limitation that did not serve legitimate state interests.
Ntuli had been allowed to use a desktop computer in a previous facility but lost that privilege when he moved to Johannesburg Medium "C" Correctional Centre. Strikingly, inmates were limited to using communal computers during restrictive hours in a noisy environment, which was hardly conducive to learning.
Upholding the right to education behind bars
Justice SA Majiedt, writing for the court, underscored the importance of education in rehabilitating offenders and noted that the blanket ban demonstrated a failure on the department’s part to effectively balance educational needs with security concerns. The court insisted that a nuanced approach is necessary, one that considers the individual circumstances of inmates and their educational requirements.
The court’s ruling affirmed inmates' inherent right to access educational tools, including personal computers. It allows any inmate registered at a recognized tertiary institution and who reasonably needs a computer for their studies to possess one in their cell—though without modem capabilities to prevent security breaches. Essentially, this ruling facilitates access to educational resources critical for the successful rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates into society.
Acknowledging ongoing security concerns, the court stipulated that correctional authorities may inspect these computers regularly and may restrict their use if inmates breach the rules governing their use. The decision requires the National Commissioner of Correctional Services to draft and publish a revised policy within 12 months to ensure compliance with the judgment’s principles.
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