Prison officials at Leeuwkop Correctional Facility have been accused of the murder of an inmate. Picture: Bongiwe Mchunu
MANYANE MANYANE
manyane.manyane@inl.co.za
Prison officials at Leeuwkop Correctional Facility have been accused of the murder of an inmate.
This follows the death of Bacelio Alphonso who died in prison on December 30.
The officials alleged that the 30-year-old was killed by other inmates.
However, sources including officials and inmates, claimed Alphonso was killed by the officials after attempting to stab one of the prison guards.
An official, who requested to remain anonymous, said that the manner in which Alphonso was killed was suspicious.
He said the inmate was handcuffed and assaulted.
“They are saying he was killed by other inmates, which is not true. The inmate was killed by officials.
One of them (officials) ordered the handcuffs (to be placed on him) while they were busy kicking him,” said the official.
Alphonso’s cousin, Godfry Williams, said the family was informed on December 31. According to him, the post-mortem report revealed that he died of blunt-force trauma to the head, and the family was told that he was violent.
Williams said he subsequently contacted a friend who is an inmate at the prison and he told him that officials assaulted him.
“I also went to the correctional services to find out what exactly happened and they were very evasive and claimed that my cousin was violent and had to be constrained, which is not true. They also claimed that they had to move him to another unit in order to cool him down. All these claims are incorrect,” he said, adding that Alphonso’s body showed that he was assaulted.
The family on Wednesday told the SABC that although they were told that Alphonso had died from a heart attack, a post-mortem report revealed that he died of blunt force trauma to the head.
The family added that they were also tipped off by one of the inmates that Alphonso was allegedly assaulted by the prison officials until he became unconscious and then taken to another cell where he was later declared dead.
An inmate insider claimed the alleged incident happened in B Section where Alphonso was allegedly assaulted.
“He was bleeding heavily and the officials did not stop. Even the stretcher they carried him out of the cell was drenched with blood," the inmate said.
“I think he died while he was alone in the single cell. This has stressed the inmates in this prison,” said another inmate who alleged that many of the offenders at Leeuwkop have been victims of brutal attacks from the prison officials.
Correctional Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said the department has launched an investigation into the matter.
"The inmate behaved in a strange way and had to be restrained. He was then moved to another cell where he collapsed and was unconscious.
"Thereafter, the medical practitioner confirmed him dead. An autopsy has been conducted and we are awaiting the report as it will assist in concluding the investigation that is currently underway," he said.
Meanwhile, the South African Prisoners Organisation for Human Rights (Sapohr) said it would accelerate pressure on law enforcement to make sure the perpetrators are found guilty and arrested.
The organisation's spokesperson Miles Bhudu said Alphonso was not the only prisoner killed by prison officials.
Bhudu said another prisoner was killed a few weeks before he was set to be released on parole at Leeuwkop in 2022. Bhudu said six officials were arrested and subsequently released the following day.
In 2023, the Johannesburg High Court ordered the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services to pay damages to inmates at Leeuwkop who had been tortured by prison officials.
The application was brought by five inmates who said they had been subjected to extensive physical and psychological abuse.
manyane.manyane@inl.co.za