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Solitary confinement 'abused'
27/10/2003 19:29 - (SA)
Johannesburg - The Jali Commission of Inquiry into corruption in prisons has heard claims of abuse of the system of solitary confinement at Leeuwkop Prison, north of Johannesburg, SABC radio news reported on Monday.
Prisoner David Nkuna told the commission that maximum security prisoners were arbitrarily sentenced by warders to solitary confinement for lengthy periods of time.
The punishment led to some prisoners committing suicide, Nkuna reportedly said.
Commission evidence leader Jerome Brauns said solitary confinement should only be applied within a rigid set of guidelines, SABC reported.
He said the commission hoped to make recommendations to President Thabo Mbeki that the new Correctional Services Act be promulgated as soon as possible. The Act makes provision for new guidelines on when solitary confinement can be meted out.
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