SA inmates vie to be crowned 'Jail Star'

Dressed in identical orange uniforms, inmates at Cape Town’s maximum-security Pollsmoor prison sing and act for the cameras in a new reality series where they vie to be crowned Jail Star.

The prison, best known for gang violence in one of the world’s most violent countries, has launched a TV talent search for offenders as part of its rehabilitation programme.

The show will be broadcast throughout South Africa’s prison system on an in-house television channel.

“One of the reasons for the show was to take away the reality that prison was a university of crime. Jail Star gave the prisoners a chance to be themselves and away from their unreal environment,” said the founder of Prison Broadcasting Network, Marius Boaden.

“We completed the production.

About 35 prisoners were auditioned. The idea comes from reality shows such as Pop Idol and South Africa’s Got Talent. The prisoners could act or recite a poem,” he said.

The judges were two warders and a prisoner.

“The competition was tough. The judges were honest and encouraging but there were some pretty harsh comments. The general concept was to be positive and encourage them even if they were bad,” he said.

But the programme’s launch was postponed after a stabbing incident that prompted Pollsmoor to impose a general lock-down.

“It seems now things have settled down. We will try again maybe next week and the winner will be announced then. The winner won’t be receiving any prize but the recognition,” he said.

The broadcast is part of a rehabilitation and skills development programme.

“After they finish their training, they get certificates. We have two cameras, no lights, one mic and one tripod. We work with bare bones but we manage.”—Sapa-AFP