by Bahle Gama
His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS) Commissioner General (ComGen) Phindile Lamakhosini Dlamini says convicted former MP Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza wants to be treated like a king, or some kind of ruler.
“In fact, he holds himself as one despite his status as a convicted offender who has started serving his sentence,” she submitted.
The ComGen was responding to an urgent application filed by Mabuza who was alleging that there was a plan to assassinate him in prison through poisoned food.
In his application, he said he wanted the ComGen to be ordered and directed by the court to permit him to access meals prepared from outside the correctional services daily.
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She stated that the main problem is that Mabuza wants things done his way not in terms of the law and laid down procedures that govern the operations of the Correctional Services Department.
Dlamini told the court that Mabuza is hell-bent on bullying everyone in the facility as he always does with the Correctional Services officers, which is not acceptable and should be condoned by the court because it undermines her constitutional mandate to make the Correctional facilities a better place for inmates.
“The court should reprimand Mabuza for his wayward conduct undermining the Correctional Services authorities with impunity and fighting our officers whenever he gets a chance,” she submitted.
She further brought it to the court’s attention that during his incarceration, Mabuza has breached the Correctional facility’s policies quite several times exceeding 10, a fact that is a common cause and has been reported widely in the country’s daily newspapers.
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The ComGen stated that she is aware that inmates have rights too as citizens of this country, however, one cannot ignore the fact that inmates’ rights are to a certain extent limited.
She further submitted that it is apparent from Mabuza’s conduct that he has not come to terms with the fact that he cannot enjoy all the constitutional rights that are being done so by those who are not in conflict with the law.
“That is the reality and what is obtaining even when in the most democratic countries of the world.
He should accept that his rights are now limited including the right to freely associate, the right to liberty and many other rights not enjoyed by incarcerated inmates,” she said.
In an endeavour to raise some preliminary issues, the ComGen told the court that Mabuza is infested with material disputes of facts which renders it unable to be resolved through affidavits.
She reiterated that Mabuza has been in prison under the HMCS’ custody and has been safe, therefore the department will always prioritise his health and safety, just like it does with all other offenders without any discrimination
