Inmate’s death sparks suspicion
The mysterious death of an inmate of the Krugersdorp Prison has raised some alarming questions.
A concerned resident has contacted the News claiming that her cousin is one of the two inmates who allegedly overdosed and died while in the Krugersdorp prison.
The very worried female cousin of the 29-year-old inmate called the News on 19 June, following the death of the young man in the Krugersdorp Correctional Services cells. The man was serving a two-year sentence at the time of his death.
She claims that even though her cousin died of ‘natural causes’, which the family said was what appears on the death certificate, she suspects that the circumstances surrounding the two deaths are drug-related.
The woman told the News that another family member, who was in the same prison, told her that drugs are placed in plastic balls and allegedly tossed over the prison walls. The balls are collected by the guards who then allegedly redistribute the drugs inside the prison.
“It is beyond my imagination how it is possible to overdose on drugs in jail,” she said.
After the News published the initial article about the deaths of the two prisoners on its website on 20 June, numerous other claims of alleged substance abuse and illicit drug-dealing within the prison were brought to the News’ attention.
Initial article: Two jailbirds die of overdoses
The Krugersdorp Correctional Services spokesperson was immediately contacted for comment regarding both the allegations and the incident. The spokesperson referred the News to the Area Commissioner of the Krugersdorp Management Area, Mantom Mbebe, who in turn referred the News to the Regional Coordinator of the Department of Correctional Services, Ofentse Morwane, for comment.
Morwane said in a media statement that the two deaths, the first being on 5 June, were not drug-related.
“The 29-year-old was a remand detainee admitted for theft on 27 May with a history of a chronic condition and was on treatment. At some point he was referred to Leratong Hospital for further management and was later discharged with treatment which he continued to take while incarcerated. On 15 June, a nurse was called in after he was found unconscious. An assessment was immediately done by a doctor on duty who certified that the inmate had passed away due to natural causes,” Morwane said.
However, the News has confirmation from the Krugersdorp Police spokesperson, Sergeant Tshepiso Mashale, that an inquest docket has been opened and that the body of the 29-year-old has been taken to the Roodepoort Pathology Services for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
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