Four warders suspended after inmate’s death at Goodwood prison

The Department of Correctional Services says four of its warders at Goodwood Correctional Centre in Cape Town have been suspended pending an investigation into the death of an inmate. National Commissioner for the department, Makgothi Thobakgale, made the announcement during a media briefing held in Goodwood. 

Quinton Fortuin died in February this year after he was involved in a violent altercation with a prison official. It is believed that Fortuin died as a result of multiple blunt force trauma. Thobakgale says the four officials are on suspension while an internal departmental probe and a police investigation are ongoing. He has handed over a report detailing the incident to regional officials. 

According to the department, the incident occurred on the morning of 16 February during the daily unlock procedure, a process that involves counting and moving inmates. While other inmates exited their cells and assembled in line, Fortuin remained in his cell and only joined the queue after being called, positioning himself at the back. He then reportedly launched an attack on one of the Correctional Officers using a handmade sharpened object, inflicting serious injuries on the official. 

Thobakgale explained that the matter is under investigation by the South African Police Service (SAPS), “The investigation progressed with the police and we are informed now that the death is not a natural death — it’s an unnatural death — meaning that the autopsy report has identified blunt force as the cause of the demise of offender Fortuin. We also conducted our own investigation. The incident happened on the 16th; I visited the correctional facility on the 18th to get more facts.” 

Fortuin was a remand detainee admitted to Goodwood Correctional Centre last year. He was facing serious charges, including triple murder and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. 

In response to the incident, Thobakgale has instructed that all prison officials undergo renewed training on the appropriate use of force. 

“Of course, there are other directives that I have given in speeding up the processes of improving the integrated security system and also sensitising our officials on the use of force to defuse any security incident. The use of force is supposed to be applied in line with the Correctional Services Act and the standard operating procedures. It’s not supposed to be applied unlawfully.” 

One of the recommendations in the report includes enhancing the facility’s security systems. Thobakgale states, “It points to this in any case when the department is already in a process of improving security at Goodwood and other correctional facilities. The only thing that is holding us back is the fact that the equipment that needs to be funded, they are costly, and we are installing them in phases. We do that on the basis of the budget that we have at a particular given point in time.” 

The department also says other officials confirmed to have been involved in the incident will be considered for possible disciplinary action as investigations continue.