St Albans torture allegations lawsuit continues in PE High Court

01 Feb 2016 | Admin Author

The class action law-suit against the Department of Correctional Services continued in the Port Elizabeth High Court on Monday.

Human rights lawyer, Egon Oswald, has instituted a multi-million rand claim for damages on behalf of the first four of more than 230 inmates who claim to have been tortured at St Albans Prison by prison warders during a crack-down in July 2005.

Algoa FM News reporter Raahil Sain filed this report.

Occupational therapist, Letitia Strauss told the court that she found Xolani Siko, a complainant in the matter, to be extremely depressed and a highly traumitised individual as a result of the torture incident in 2005.

Strauss added that the incident affected Siko's general quality of life as he now experiences severe physical difficulty, particularly in his hands.

Meanwhile, Advocate Hilton Epstein put it to Strauss that her report was based solely on what Siko had told her and that she did not investigate the whole truth.

Epstein also questioned Siko's physical impairment at described by Strauss-he questioned Siko's ability to still play rugby, an impact sport, as well as soccer.