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It is confirmed that the 53 year old inmate, Thuthuka Mchunu, died after he was assaulted by two of his fellow inmates yesterday at the Mangaung Maximum Security Prison.

Mr Mchunu was serving a life sentence at the Mangaung Maximum Security Prison for charges of aggravated robbery, culpable homicide, various counts of assault and murder. He was sentenced to life imprisonment after he was found guilty of committing a murder, while he was serving another sentence, at Waterval Prison, during 1992.

Trained employees of Group 4 Correction Services responded swiftly to the scene, and on-site medical staff were also dispatched. The inmate was declared dead by the resident doctor soon after he was taken to the local prison hospital.

Mr Frikkie Venter, Managing Director of Group 4 Correction Services SA, said that the next of kin had already been informed of the tragic event and he expressed his condolences to the family and friends of the diseased.

He also said that inmates and employees that had witnessed the unfortunate event would receive the necessary post-incident counselling, since such an incident is traumatic for employees and inmates.

A Senior Manager of Group 4 as well as the South African Police Service are currently investigating this incident.

28 February 2003

Source: Department of Correctional Services (http://www.dcs.gov.za)