Shock over woman in men's jail

2010-03-18 22:43

Durban - Cosatu in KwaZulu-Natal has expressed shock at reports that a Durban woman has been locked up in the male section of Westville Prison for six months.

"This is despicable to say the least and has totally destroyed her confidence. The act of the department of correctional services officers as alleged cannot be condoned," said Congress of SA Trade Unions provincial secretary Zet Luzipho on Thursday.

The Sowetan reported that Amaravathee Wilson, 36, alleged she was raped, sodomised and assaulted almost every day by the male prisoners.

She had been arrested for armed robbery, attempted murder and hijacking in 2003.

The paper quoted Wilson's lawyer, Shireen Soobrathi as saying that she was seeking justice for her client who was acquitted on her charges.

Soobrathi reportedly said her client was suing the minister of correctional services and that the matter would be heard at a magistrate's court because she was claiming R100 000.

Case struck off roll

But the department of correctional services said the matter was struck off the roll in September last year. Spokesperson Sonwabo Mbananga said there was no case pending against the department lodged by Wilson.

"The case was struck off the roll and there have been no new papers that have been served on us," he said.

According to the report, Wilson was known as Denise and the prison officials had recorded her name as Denis. Her requests to be removed from the male cells had been ignored, it was reported.

Luzipho said Wilson was put in the cell so that she could endure the pain of daily sexual abuse by male inmates.

"What type of heartless people can do such a thing and continue to serve our criminal system? We just hope this is just a nightmare in a dream," he said.

Wilson and Soobrathi were not immediately available to comment on the department's claim that the matter was struck off the roll.
 

- SAPA