Pretoria - If sent to prison, Paralympian Oscar Pistorius might not be sent to a general prison cell with other inmates because of his disability.
Department of Correctional Services spokesman Logan Maistry said there was separate accommodation for disabled prisoners depending on their vulnerability.
Pistorious uses prosthetics to get around after both his legs were amputated below the knee when he was 11 months old.
Maistry said: “Offenders with disabilities must be oriented about the Correctional Centre. All possible, and available, resources, health care services and facilities that will be in aid of their special needs must be explained, and shown, to them during admission.
“On admission, assistive devices that are of aid to offenders with disabilities should not be taken away from them but should be recorded and utilised by them.”
There were health care workers in the facilities to take care of the needs of disabled prisoners.
“Given that disabilities differ vastly, it is not feasible to build, or adapt, a correctional facility that is ‘specially adapted’ to disabilities in general. Far more effective is an assessment, at centre level, regarding the needs of each specific inmate, disabled or not, and ensuring that they are accommodated appropriately.
“The suitability of a facility for an inmate depends on his or her disability. For example, someone in a wheelchair must be accommodated differently to someone who is blind. Other health needs are dealt with in a similar manner.”
Pretoria News Weekend