State prosecutor recuses herself in Johannesburg prison warden murder trial

The state prosecutor in the case against five prison wardens accused of murdering an inmate has recused herself from the matter.

This comes after state witness Siphelele Quvane made damning allegations of incompetence against her.

The matter relates to the murder of inmate Dumisani Ngwenya, who was allegedly beaten to death in 2022 at Johannesburg prison.

In a turn of events in court on Tuesday, the state witness, Siphelele Quvane, refused to begin testifying, saying he wants to raise some issues with the court in exchange for his testimony.

He told the court that the prosecutor had ignored his complaints about the threats he is receiving inside the prison, allegedly by other wardens, because he is a witness in the matter.

He added that the prosecutor denied them their constitutional right by not consulting them ahead of the trial, saying he has lost confidence in her.

He has officially withdrawn himself as a witness.

"I am refusing to be treated like this under a new dispensation era, if it comes as a push, I would rather recuse myself as a witness than to be treated like this."

The matter has been postponed to Wednesday.

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