Boeremag men get 'big fat rat'

2004-04-20 16:14

Pretoria - Numerous complaints about the alleged "inhuman" conditions under which several Boeremag treason trial accused were being held at Pretoria's Local Prison are to be investigated by the department of correctional services.

After the trial was delayed yet again for several hours on Tuesday, correctional services eventually agreed to investigate complaints laid by the treason trialists and attempt to resolve their problems.

Some of the accused complained that they were not given breakfast before being brought to court on Monday and had found on their return to jail in the late afternoon that the morning's bread had been left in a crate, accompanied by "a big fat rat" and its droppings.

Some of the accused also did not have water in their cells to drink or wash and complained that the windows in their cells were "welded open" and could not be shut against the rain and cold.

'Red under the collar'

One of the accused, Tom Vorster, said he was "red under the collar" because his complaints were being brushed off.

"There are things that need urgent attention. My physical and psychological health is at risk and I am being hampered in my preparation for the trial. I want to be treated humanely in jail," he said.

Piet Pistorius, who appears for several of the accused, said his clients would seriously consider launching a further urgent application to enforce their rights if nothing was done. He said problems with the food in jail seemed to have become worse in recent times.

Another advocate told the court aspects such as the broken sewerage pipes in jail needed urgent attention.

Judge Eben Jordaan expressed the hope that consultations between the accused, a state attorney and correctional services official had been fruitful and that the situation would improve.

- SAPA