Prisoner forced to pedicure

2002-07-25 00:01

Bloemfontein - A Grootvlei prisoner and ex-high school teacher told the Jali Commission on Wednesday that he was repeatedly forced to cut the toenails and foot callouses of a senior prison official, as well as massage the feet of a woman official.

Kenneth Kunene, serving six years for fraud, testified before the commission that he performed these "humiliating" acts because assistant director Mufamadi Kosana gave him the impression that if he obeyed, Kosana would either ensure his early release from prison or see to it that he received monitor status, which allows a prisoner certain privileges.

Kunene worked as a cleaner in Kosana's office. Kosana is also assistant chairman of the prison's institutional committee.

"The first time he asked me to cut his corns, I thought I did not hear him correctly. Then he told me that there is a razor in his table drawer. He told me to forget my elegant lifestyle outside, and reminded me that one can do nothing in prison without the help of a warder."

Kosana would sit on his chair and Kunene would kneel down, take off his shoes and socks, and cut his corns. Kosana could not see past his stomach to determine whether his toe nails needed cutting too, and asked Kunene to check for him, who then proceeded with cutting the nails as well, Kunene testified.

'The most humiliating thing'

"In my mind, that was the most humiliating thing that ever happened to me, whether in or outside of prison. It was as if he was trying to test my obedience. It felt as if he treated me like a slave."

Kunene also told the commission that one Ms Molata, an official from the office next to Kosana's, had had bunions removed leaving her foot swollen from stitches and Kosana had ordered Kunene to massage her foot, saying: "Bandiet, why not be a gentleman and massage the lady's foot."

Molata then took cream from her bag and Kunene massaged her foot with it. After that, she asked him several times to massage her foot again behind a locked office door.

"It was not only humiliating, but I was instigated to do something I would not have done to a woman I do not have a romantic relationship with," Kosana testified.

In a day dominated by allegations of conspiracies, the commission also heard how Kosana, a prominent member of the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union and an elected African National Congress member of the Mangaung local council, allegedly planned to overthrow the management of head of Grootvlei prison Tatolo Setlai.

Boasts of plans to oust Setlai

Kunene testified that Kosana had boasted to him that he would oust Setlai and take over the management of the prison himself through weakening Setlai's administration.

Kunene said he suspected Kosana had also ordered warders to carry out corrupt practices so that Setlai's management of the prison was discredited.

Kosana allegedly also boasted that he was responsible for the ousting of previous Grootvlei area manager Grace Molatedi (who was transferred after a Popcru strike demanding that she be removed).

The commission heard that 49 correctional officials were dismissed after the strike, but that they were re-instated later on "humanitarian grounds" by provincial commissioner Willem Damons.

Kunene told the commission that Kosana had boasted afterwards that he saw to their reinstatement. "He told me that he had powerful influence. He (Kosana) said: 'I do not stand back when my soldiers are at war. When they get burnt, I run with the fire extinguisher."

Kunene also testified that Kosana told him he was not afraid of being suspended, and that he had been suspended more times than any other warder in the Free State and it gave him time to "tend to his political constituencies".

In addition, Kosana was accused of being away from work without permission for long periods.

Setlai testified that Kosana currently faced several disciplinary investigations, including one into his alleged disobeying of orders from Setlai.

- SAPA