Limpopo - The man jailed for killing four people in Skierlik informal settlement in North West was not receiving special treatment in prison, an official said on Tuesday.
“Johan Nel was transferred to a maximum correctional centre in Limpopo, No special treatment was given to Nel,” said correctional services spokeswoman Sarie Peens.
She was responding to an accusation by the Congress of SA Trade Union (Cosatu) North West that Nel was being given preferential treatment.
Nel is serving four life sentences for the 2008 murder of four black people in Skierlik informal settlement, near Swartruggens.
He shot dead Sivuyile Peyi, 37, Annah Moiphitlhi, 31, Elizabeth Moiphitlhi, three-months-old, and Tshepo Motshelanoka, 10. He wounded eight others.
“We are told that the racial killer (Johan Nel) is being specially treated by the correctional services to the extent that he is visited by his wife almost every day, while the African black prisoners are visited at the times programmed by the management,” Cosatu alleged.
Peens said Nel was initially held at the juvenile centre, where inmates had access to a library.
He was transferred to the Katuma Sinthumule maximum prison in Venda, Limpopo, soon after his marriage at the Rustenburg prison in February.
“He is no longer in the juvenile section,” she said.
Peens confirmed that Nel got married while in prison.
“The fact that he got married inside a correctional facility was done according to the department of correctional services policy.
“The couple received guidance from a social worker from the department of correctional services before they got married, and several media published the story about his marriage.”
She said the parents of the couple were given permission to attend the wedding ceremony inside the prison. - Sapa