Wiseman Khuzwayo
STOCK exchange whizzkid Greg Blank, now serving time for fraud, will be treated the same as any other prisoner, says the Department of Correctional Services.
Blank began serving his eight-year sentence last Saturday after exhausting his opportunities to appeal against it. But South Africa does not have US-style special prisons for “white collar” criminals.
Brigadier Chris Olckers of Correctional Services said: “All prisoners are treated exactly the same. But because of publicity they have received in the media, some prisoners are obviously treated differently by prison officers. However, crime is crime regardless of whether it is `white collar’ or `blue collar.'”
Blank reported to Krugersdorp Prison, but might be moved to Johannesburg so that he may be near his family, Olckers said. He denied this was unusual.
This “unofficial” favouritism was confirmed by Thozamile Tana, a warder and official of the Police and Prison Officers Civil Rights Union. He quoted the case of former Sundowns football club owner, Zola Mahobe, whom he said was transferred from the notorious Barberton Prison to Johannesburg Prison because he claimed he had a business to look after in Johannesburg.