Four correctional officers have been suspended following the death of Quinton Fortuin, a 44-year-old inmate, at Goodwood Correctional Facility in Cape Town. The incident took place on February 16 during a routine unlocking procedure.
Fortuin, who faced charges including murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, and possession of illegal firearms and ammunition, allegedly attacked a prison official, Lwandile Manise, with a sharpened object. Manise suffered serious injuries, including a broken arm, and was rushed to the hospital.
In response to the attack, additional wardens intervened and used force to subdue Fortuin. He sustained multiple blunt-force injuries during the incident and was later declared dead at Karl Bremer Hospital. A post-mortem confirmed the cause of death as unnatural.
Read more news
- Ananias Ndlovu won the prestigious Influential Man of the Year Award
- SAPS Discovers Vehicle Parts as Search for Missing Police Officers Intensifies
- Trump Replaces National Security Adviser Amid Messaging Scandals
- Personal Items Recovered from Car of Missing Constables Pulled from Hennops River
Officials have launched a full investigation, with national commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale highlighting severe overcrowding at the facility. Goodwood prison is operating at over 150% capacity, housing 2,480 inmates with only 302 staff members. The investigation’s findings call for a reassessment of the centre’s management practices to address ongoing safety concerns.