South African prison guards face suspension over strip show

Johannesburg : South African prison officials said Monday that they were considering suspending 13 guards after one of the country's high-security jails held an "explicit" strip show for inmates last week.

The announcement was made after racy pictures of prisoners in orange uniforms, some bare-chested, standing with scantily dressed women in black corsets and knee-high boots went viral on social media over the weekend.

Officials said the pictures were taken during an event on June 21 at the notorious Johannesburg Correctional Centre, more commonly known as "Sun City". 

"After a preliminary investigation... at least 13 officials will be served with letters of contemplation of suspension," acting Correctional Services Commissioner James Smalberger told reporters.

Smalberger said the event at the prison outside Soweto township was part of South Africa's Youth Month celebrations, and blamed an external organiser for the show.

"The intention was never to have strippers in the facility," he said.

"The explicit entertainment was a clear breach of security and this type of conduct is unacceptable," he said.

He emphasised that prison management had included the female dancers on the program even though this had not been cleared by his department.

One saucy photo showed two women touching and hugging a bare-chested inmate wearing just orange prisoner pants in front of a large group of applauding inmates.

Prison guards could be seen in some of the photographs.