Prison warder now an inmate

Bloemfontein – One of 22 suspended Grootvlei warders who was implicated in a secret videotape made by prisoners, has returned to the prison -- this time as an inmate.

Former warder Ranketse Sephaka was convicted on Wednesday in a Bloemfontein court for dealing in dagga in January 2000.

Free State correctional services spokesman Johan Massyn confirmed yesterday that Sephaka was transferred to Grootvlei to serve a jail term of 12 months, with a further 18 months suspended for two years. He had the alternative of paying a fine of R6 000.

After the conviction he was automatically dismissed from the department’s service. Mr Massyn said the conviction had nothing to do with the video depicting alleged corruption at the jail which was shown to the Jali Commission.

In the video Sephaka was allegedly seen escorting an inmate to buy dagga from another prisoner. He was allegedly paid R10 and a chicken stolen from the prison kitchen. It was also alleged that prisoners bought dagga and mandrax from Sephaka and his wife at their home on the prison grounds. – Sapa

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