Pepper sprayed to death: Four warders arrested for murder of inmate

FOUR prison warders have been arrested in connection with the death of an inmate at the Mangaung Correctional Centre (MCC).

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) recently confirmed that Mpho Mkhumbeni, a prisoner who was serving a life sentence for murder, died as a result of pepper spray exposure.

"On March 12, 2025, police were notified of the death of 37-year-old Mpho Mkhumbeni, an inmate at Mangaung correctional facility in Bloemfontein. At the time, the death was believed to be due to natural causes, and an inquest docket was opened for further investigations," said police spokesperson, Brigadier Motantsi Makhele.

"Subsequent post-mortem results indicated that Mr. Mkhumbeni died due to unnatural causes. These findings led investigators to change the inquest docket to a murder investigation.

"Further investigations by the Bloemspruit police on the evening of April 22, resulted in the arrest of four warders aged between 34 and 50 for the alleged murder of the inmate." 

The warders were expected to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.

It was previously reported that Mkhumbeni fainted in his cell and was taken to the facility's internal hospital, where he was pronounced dead by a medical practitioner upon arrival.

Correctional Services Commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale stated that contradicting statements quickly emerged from further reports obtained by the agency from the contractor and its workers. "This prompted DCS to launch a full-scale investigation into the matter," Thobakgale said.

The inquiry began on March 14. According to Thobakgale, G4S performed a cell search at the Wolds Unit, Street 1, Cell 6, on the evening of March 11, without informing the interim manager provided by DCS who should have been there.

Later that evening, members of the Dedicated Search Team (DST) returned to the same cell when an official misplaced a rucksack carrying R800. During the second visit, the four inmates in the cell, including Mkhumbeni, were allegedly interrogated, assaulted, and tortured about the missing money.

"These claims were initially denied by the DST officials and the contractor," added Thobakgale.

Cape Times