Pretoria - The correctional services department and police are investigating allegations of torture at Pretoria Central Prison.
Correctional services spokesperson Phumlani Ximiya said on Tuesday that an internal investigation was underway into the conduct of six warders accused of shocking a prisoner with an electrified riot shield.
A criminal case had also been opened with police.
Ximiya said correctional services national commissioner Tom Moyane was "shocked" at the allegations and condemned such behaviour by prison staff.
The investigations follow the smuggling out of prison of a sound recording of what is claimed to be warders shocking a prisoner.
The sound bite was aired on Radio 702. The station quoted police spokesperson Wanda Olivier as saying a case of assault had been opened against six warders and that arrests were imminent.
Olivier could not immediately be reached for comment.
Ximiya said the internal investigation could lead to disciplinary action against the warders. As of noon on Tuesday they were still at their posts.
The National Institute for Crime Prevention and Reintegration of Offenders spokesperson Jacques Sibomana said while many believed inmates "deserve what is coming to them", the victim in this attack was awaiting trial and had not been convicted of any crime.
"How then can such an environment contribute to changing the criminal behaviour of its inmates, when daily acts of criminality are perpetrated by their guardians?" he asked.
