On January 26 an inmate of Paxton Prison was awoken by the harsh reality of prison life as it crept up behind him and pounced.
Mr Thabo Hlati*, who suffers from depression and is currently serving a five year jail term for theft and related transgressions, always takes his anti-depressants before going to bed.
Mr Hlati had previously complained that his medication left him feeling drowsy and dizzy, and that he often struggled to wake up during the night after he had taken it.
At approximately 02:30, Mr Hlati woke up screaming.
He was naked and a fellow inmate was already busy raping him.
Mr Hlati claims that his medication left him so vulnerable that he didn’t even wake up whilst the other inmate undressed him.
A case of rape was opened with Witbank SAPS and the alleged rapist has been identified to them by Mr Hlati.
*Names changed to protect the identity of victims of sexual crimes.
