STIFLED AFRICANS

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31975, 30 April 1969, Page 13

STIFLED AFRICANS

Crew Of Van Set Free

rv.Z.P..*.-Reuter—Copyright; JOHANNESBURG. April 29

The two African members of the crew of the overcrowded police van in which three prisoners suffocated earlier this month were found guilty of culpable homicide yesterday, but were set free without a fine. Mr Justice Joseph Lutlnrf, who said the driver, Mathews I Magorosi, and his assistant, Uyster Ntsime, were "minor pawns in an unfortunate set of circumstances," sentenced them to be detained only until the court rose, which it did immediately. The two men were ini charge of a van which brought 89 African prisoners —the permitted maximum was 05—from the prison at Boksburg to Johannesburg on April 2. The van broke down several times and the 20-mile journey took six hours in the hot sun. On arrival, one man was found to be dead and two others died shortly afterwards. Medical evidence was that they died from asphyxiation.

The judge commented: “One shudders at the thought that this could happen in the year 1909 " He added that the designer of the van, with the prevention of escape in mind, had shown reckless disregard for the prisoners' safety. The van had three small vents on each side and a seventh in the roof.