Senzo Meyiwa murder trial: DCS dismisses torture claims by accused Ntuli as unfounded & misleading
Eventually, on Wednesday, Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng agreed to move him to a different facility at the Leeuwenkop Prison, where he will now stay.
FILE: The Senzo Meyiwa murder trial continued in the Pretoria High Court. Picture: Nokukhanya Mntambo/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - The Correctional Services Department has dismissed claims of torture by one of the accused in the Senzo Meyiwa trial as unfounded and misleading.
On Wednesday morning, proceedings in the Pretoria High Court were delayed after Fisokuhle Ntuli refused to leave his prison cell, claiming he was being ill-treated by the warders.
He claimed that he was denied phone calls and access to his lawyers, with officials claiming he was found with a cellphone, prompting his move to the C-max section.
Eventually, on Wednesday, Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng agreed to move him to a different facility at the Leeuwenkop Prison, where he will now stay.
But Department of Correctional Services spokesperson, Singabakho Nxumalo, has accused Ntuli of weaponising his human rights.
"As the department, we have noticed a disturbing trend where offenders weaponise human rights discourse to shield themselves from consequences of wrongdoing. They do so with dishonesty, something which is an insult into the very same principles of justice and fairness."