Inmate challenges treatment in C-Max Prison

A CELLPHONE found in the possession of an inmate serving a 15-year jail sentence for murder — containing pictures of prison officials as well as communications with them — has cost him dearly, as he is now locked up in C-Max Prison, in solitary confinement-like conditions.

- ZELDA VENTER

Rotondwa Raliphaswa turned to the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, for an urgent order that he must be removed from this maximum security prison, as his rights to humane treatment are being violated.

Raliphaswa was transferred to the C-Max Kgosi Mampuru Prison from the ODI Correctional Services Facility in January this year. This was after prison officials, during a routine raid on the cells, found the phone in his possession.

He was initially moved to the C Section of the ODI Correctional Centre and detained in a single cell to allow for further investigation. In light of him having pictures of prison officials on his phone, as well as recordings of conversations with them, it was decided for safety reasons to transfer him to C-Max.