A prisoner, who now fears for his life, told the Pretoria high court yesterday that a Pretoria C-Max prison warder had agreed to supply two inmates with a firearm so that they could escape.

A prisoner, who now fears for his life, told the Pretoria high court yesterday that a Pretoria C-Max prison warder had agreed to supply two inmates with a firearm so that they could escape.

King Winner Maluleka, serving a 25-year term for murder and theft, testified against prison warder Herman Makhubela, who has denied guilt.

Acting Correctional Services area co-ordinator Ben Ndinisa and C-Max Prison head, Sam Gomba, were shot dead during the escape, which also saw prisoners Mpho Klangago and Ronnie Nenyatso commit suicide.

Maluleka read a letter to the court in which he said: "My life is in danger. I'm testifying against heist members and corrupt officials who can do anything to protect their corrupt colleague."

Maluleka also claimed he had not eaten food from the prison kitchen since December last year, when he heard that a "corrupt official" had given money, drugs and poison to a prison gang to "silence him forever".

Maluleka said he had decided to give evidence because he "was in prison to be reformed and rehabilitated and not to do bad things again". - Sapa