Inmate allegedly assaulted by three wardens in prison

MBOMBELA – An inmate alleged that he was assaulted in the Nelspruit prison for wearing an EFF beret. He also alleged that he was offered R2 000 not to press charges against the officers who had attacked him.

Mr Xolani Masuku claimed warders assaulted him on June 19 after they suspected he had something illegal inside his pocket. He said they searched him but could not find anything.

“I questioned why I was the only one being searched, they grabbed my beret, threw it on the floor and stepped on it.

“The first officer slapped me in the face in front of other prisoners while we were in the recreational area. When the other officers also began beating me, they dragged me to their office and continued to assault me further.

They said I am a member of the EFF and that my leader won’t tell them anything,” he said

Masuku apparently also swallowed three of his teeth during the assault. He added that when he told them he wanted to press charges, they offered him R2 000 cash but he refused to take a bribe and managed to open an assault case.

He was taken to the prison clinic. Medical staff gave him medication but told him to return for a consultation on Tuesday.

A source, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed that Masuku was brutally assaulted by three warders, however, he was not sure why they had done it.

“I didn’t like what they did. I saw them taking off his EFF beret by force, dropped it on the floor and then started beating him.”