Top doc looks into prisoners death
19 January 2008, 14:52
A senior district surgeon has been appointed to conduct a post-mortem on the prisoner who was allegedly beaten and killed by warders at the New Prison in Pietermaritzburg, said the Justice for Prisoners and Detainees Trust (JPDT) on Saturday.
It was reported on Friday that 28-year-old Senzo Zepharia Mazibuko, who was serving a sentence for armed robbery, was beaten to death after an unnamed senior official had instructed the officials that Mazibuko be "taught a lesson".
JPDT spokesperson Derrick Mdluli told the SABC that District Surgeon Reggie Perumal would soon perform the post-mortem to determine the exact cause of death.
"We certainly take exception to violence perpetrated by Correctional Services members against prisoners, especially if excessive force is used, as seems to have been the case here", Mdluli said in a statement.
The Witness newspaper on Friday quoted a source in the prison saying: "[The senior official] instructed the members working in E-section to teach the prisoners a lesson and instructed the members to assault the prisoners with broomsticks, metal pipes and batons."
Police spokesperson Superintendent Henry Budhram said police were busy with investigations and were awaiting the results of the post-mortem.
Budhram said initial investigations revealed that Mazibuko had apparently assaulted another inmate with a padlock before he was removed by warders.
The JPDT said it would call for the immediate suspension of the warders implicated in the act should it be found that excessive force was used.
"We hope and trust that there will be no cover up and that the investigation will be transparent" said Mdluli.
Correctional Services spokesperson Manelisi Wolela said the department was expecting the results of the post-mortem in the coming week.
Mazibuko was allegedly beaten to death on Monday. - Sapa
It was reported on Friday that 28-year-old Senzo Zepharia Mazibuko, who was serving a sentence for armed robbery, was beaten to death after an unnamed senior official had instructed the officials that Mazibuko be "taught a lesson".
JPDT spokesperson Derrick Mdluli told the SABC that District Surgeon Reggie Perumal would soon perform the post-mortem to determine the exact cause of death.
"We certainly take exception to violence perpetrated by Correctional Services members against prisoners, especially if excessive force is used, as seems to have been the case here", Mdluli said in a statement.
The Witness newspaper on Friday quoted a source in the prison saying: "[The senior official] instructed the members working in E-section to teach the prisoners a lesson and instructed the members to assault the prisoners with broomsticks, metal pipes and batons."
Police spokesperson Superintendent Henry Budhram said police were busy with investigations and were awaiting the results of the post-mortem.
Budhram said initial investigations revealed that Mazibuko had apparently assaulted another inmate with a padlock before he was removed by warders.
The JPDT said it would call for the immediate suspension of the warders implicated in the act should it be found that excessive force was used.
"We hope and trust that there will be no cover up and that the investigation will be transparent" said Mdluli.
Correctional Services spokesperson Manelisi Wolela said the department was expecting the results of the post-mortem in the coming week.
Mazibuko was allegedly beaten to death on Monday. - Sapa
Durban
