Inmate dies after blade attack on warden at Drakenstein prison
An inmate allegedly slashed a warder in the face with a blade, prompting officials to use minimum force to subdue him
Image: File
An inmate has died of “unnatural causes” after he allegedly cut a warden in the face with a blade at Drakenstein Correctional Facility on Saturday.
According to a Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS) report seen by Cape Argus sister publication, the Daily Voice, the inmate allegedly slashed a warden in the face with a blade, prompting officials to use “minimum force” to subdue him.
The report said the inmate sustained injuries during the incident and was taken to the facility’s clinic, where he allegedly attempted to attack other officials while being assessed.
Department of Correctional Services (DCS) spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo stated that the department is aware that a “security incident” has occurred and that an internal investigation is underway.
Nxumalo said: “At this stage, the incident is being subjected to the Department’s internal preliminary investigation processes. In the interest of ensuring accuracy and integrity of the investigation, it would be premature to provide detailed commentary.
“A comprehensive report and further details will be made available once the preliminary investigation has been concluded and the Department has been fully apprised of the circumstances surrounding the incident.”
DA MP Nicholas Gotsell said that this incident raises an obvious question about how the bandiet got a blade into the facility.
Gotsell stated: “A person has died in state custody, and if the Department has provided a watered-down response to an important query, this too requires investigation and consequences.
“The Department must ensure that the circumstances surrounding the death, including the cause of death and how contraband entered the facility, are properly clarified once the investigation is complete.”
He added that the JICS will investigate the matter to establish the full facts.