By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Dr Nandipha Magudumana has been assaulted in prison by two fellow inmates, one of whom a sangoma and the other a mentally ill at the Kroonstad Correctional Services.
According to her lawyer, Advocate Machini Motloung, her client was attacked on Sunday, 17 March by the two inmates at the correctional facility.
Motloung said he received a call this morning, Monday, 18 March, that his client had been attacked. He then tried to contact the head of the prison without success.
“This morning, I received a message that my client had been attacked by fellow inmates. I then tried to contact the head of the prison, but I couldn’t get through. And when we adjourned, I received a call from my client.”
“I can confirm that she was indeed assaulted by two fellow inmates, one of whom is a sangoma and the other mentally challenged,” he said.
This is the second assault Magudumana has reported since her arrest in 2023.
Meanwhile, spokesperson for the Department of Correctional Services, Singabakho Nxumalo said they have yet to receive any complaints from Magudumana or her legal representatives about cases of assault.
Nxumalo disputed claims that mentally challenged inmates are kept with other inmates, as they fall under the ambit of the Department of Health.
He further explained that there were no complaints filed or medical reports to this extent.
Magudumana is the co-accused in the Thabo Bester prison escape. Bester is currently in custody at the Kgosi Mampuru II prison in Pretoria.