Mangaung inmate disputes reasons given for fellow inmate's death

JOHANNESBURG - An inmate from the controversial Mangaung Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein disputes the reasons given to the public about why an inmate was severely beaten, resulting in his death.

According to Correctional Services, in March, inmate Mpho Mkhumbeni and three of his cellmates were beaten and pepper-sprayed following a raid in their cell after prison officials accused them of stealing money from a bag that was mistakenly left in the cell during the raid.

Mkhumbeni died the following day as prison officials attempted to cover up his murder.

An inmate from Mangaung claims the reason murder convict Mkhumbeni and his cellmates were viciously assaulted and beaten was because a cellphone was discovered in their cell.

In April, G4S prison wardens raided Mkhumbeni’s cell, torturing and severely assaulting him and his three cellmates.

Mkhumbeni’s post-mortem revealed his death was unnatural, with blunt force trauma to his head and complications from pepper spray exposure.

Speaking to EWN, an inmate at the prison claims it was because of the discovery of the cellphone that Mkhumbeni and his cellmates were beaten, and not because they allegedly stole R800 from a bag of one of the prison wardens.

"Members are not allowed to come in with phones, they’re not allowed to come in with money, not even earrings - you’re allowed to have watches maybe. You wouldn’t see money in this prison, you understand? So, this thing of the money is also a fabrication."

The Department of Correctional Services suspended seven officials last week, four of them - junior prison wardens - being arrested and charged with murder and three counts of assault on Tuesday.

They are expected to apply for bail in the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on Friday. 

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