The departmental spokesperson, Singabakho Nxumalo, tells OFM News that the department in its investigations has roped in the South African Police Services (SAPS) to uncover details of how and what might have led to the murder of slain Nomsa Joyce Stuurman by Jongikhaya Samsam.

During Samsam’s court appearance in the Bloemfontein High Court in October 2019, he said in his affidavit that a male officer offered him R100 000 to take out Stuurman. The court further heard that a pair of sneakers was given to him as a bribe by the officer who is suspended and under investigation. During the court proceedings, a visibly irritated and upset Judge President, Cagney Musi, questioned the effectiveness of the offender’s rehabilitation programme by the department and questioned why Samsam, who was in jail for serious crimes, was even allowed to clean Stuurman's office. Nxumalo says evidence presented in court forms part of the issues that are being investigated by the department.

Nxumalo further says it is a sensitive case and which they will continue to handle with care. Musi questioned whether the department was poking the right holes in its effort to try and rehabilitate offenders with hopes of them being integrated back into society. This as the DCS official, Jimmy Lenong, gave a heartfelt testimony on the devastating impact this incident had on the entire community of the Correctional Facility Centre, in particular, female warders.

Musi asked why was Samsam, who was already serving two life terms and previously had been charged with Grievous Bodily Harm (GBV) in 2016 and 2017, let to work in that particular area at the time of the incident. Judge Musi subsequently sentenced Samsam to two life terms in prison for murder, rape and five years for kidnapping. He said the department, in essence, placed the lives of the women in danger by not acting swiftly after the two assault cases against Samsam.

He told Lenong that the department should have realised that the accused was not a desirable person or candidate to be chosen as a cleaner for those offices where he killed Stuurman and raped her colleague. The self-confessed chief leader of 26 gangs, however, made an admission that after his family indicated that they did not want him to return home, the deceased used to mock and taunt him about that. He alleges this led to him retaliating by killing her.

The court again heard of the chilling evidence led by the state prosecutor, Moipone Moroka, of how Samsam slit Stuurman’s throat and afterwards took a smoke break, requesting time to pray but instead raping her colleague. He also held the pregnant colleague hostage but released her after four hours of intense negotiations. OFM News previously reported that the woman was since placed on special leave and was receiving counselling. There were many questions following the gruesome incident after a report by the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS) about human rights violations that may have exacerbated the attack on the two female warders.

OFM News