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'Warder took me to my wife'
20/10/2003 15:30 - (SA)
Johannesburg - A prisoner who claimed a correctional services warder had allowed him to visit his wife at home had his case heard before the Jali Commission of Inquiry into corruption in prisons at the Randburg Land Claims Court on Monday.
Balakisten Anand Naidoo, who was a prisoner at the Johannesburg Medium B Prison in 1996, said in an affidavit that warder Mondli Blessing Madondo had taken him to see his wife, Lutchmee Naidoo, at their home in Lenasia.
The visit in March 1996 followed a consultation with an orthopaedic surgeon at Linmed Clinic.
Naidoo said Madondo left him alone for two hours with his wife. His wife conceived during the visit and gave birth to a girl in December 1996, he said.
Naidoo also said Madondo had escorted him on about 60 visits to the Wits University Dental School.
Naidoo would arrange for his wife to meet him on these visits where she would give them both money, between R20 and R50, and food.
Madondo and Naidoo would sometimes walk from the dental school to Johannesburg Central Railway Station to meet the prisoner's wife, Naidoo said.
Naidoo claimed his wife lent Madondo R5 000 in 1995. The warder had agreed to return the money by December 1995, but Naidoo said he refused to do so.
During cross-examination Madondo denied he had borrowed R5 000. He also denied ever taking Naidoo to Linmed Clinic or to visit his wife in Lenasia.
After Madondo left Johannesburg Medium B Prison he went on to become head of prisoners at Krugersdorp Prison. Naidoo was also later transferred to this prison.
Madondo admitted he had denied Naidoo accommodation in a single cell at Krugersdorp. Madondo said a few days after this Naidoo accused him of owing his wife money.
The hearing will continue on Tuesday.
Correctional services officials outside the court complained the Jali commission was making their lives difficult because prisoners were fabricating stories of corruption when they wanted to wield power over officials.
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