The Correctional Services Department has launched an investigation following the tragic death of an inmate at the Leeuwkop prison in Johannesburg.

Twenty-eight-year-old Bacelio Alphonso died in prison on the 30th of December last year.

His family says a postmortem report has revealed that he died of a blunt force trauma to the head.

They say they were informed that he died of a heart attack.

The deceased’s cousin, Godfrey Williams say they were tipped off by one of the inmates that Alphonso was allegedly assaulted by prison officials until he became unconscious and then taken to another cell where he was later declared dead.

Correctional Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo says they are looking into the matter.

“We were then informed that the inmate behaved in a strange way, he had to be restrained and was then moved to another cell and he then became unconscious. A medical practitioner confirmed him dead, so under such circumstances it warrants that a further probe then be done and that’s what had to be conducted and the family of the deceased was informed.”