Lifelong prisoner has beef with authorities for allegedly denying him a special diet
By Bongani Hans
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Cape Town - A prisoner, 68, sentenced to life for murder has accused Boksburg Correctional Service Centre in Joburg of violating his rights by denying him a special diet, prescribed by a state hospital to deal with his ailing health.
In his battle with prison authorities, Bright Padi is said to have recently been on a hunger strike lasting more than a week. Despite being frail because of an ailment, he has refused to eat food served to other inmates.
The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has denied Padi’s allegations. Gauteng Health spokesperson Kwara Kekana said the Tambo Memorial Hospital had in 2017 prescribed the prison give Padi a “special diet” with “high fibre” to ease his constipation. This was after he had stomach surgery in 2016, and diagnosed with “bowel obstruction”. But it is alleged that for the past four years, prison authorities have ig