Prison food best for King Dalindyebo's condition - Dietician

The food provided in prison is the best diet for a person suffering from a stomach ulcer, a registered dietician said.

Wendy Lord, a practising dietician for 16 years with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, said: "'The general diet of someone with a stomach ulcer is bland and plain foods. Pap and bread which are foods served in prison would fit in that guideline very well."

This comes after AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo’s family spokesperson, Mthunzi Ngonyama, said that Dalindyebo could not eat prison food as he was on a special diet.

Ngonyama said Dalindyebo was unable to stomach food served by the East London Correctional Services which resulted in his health deteriorating.

"He has no appetite. There is a menu that he is supposed to have. The menu is recommended by his doctors. He needs a special diet for his condition and it’s not uncommon for a prisoner to be given a special diet. He was unable to stomach prison food and that is why he ended up in hospital in the first place," he said.

On Sunday, Dalindyebo was readmitted to an East London private hospital after he relapsed. Ngonyama said he had fainted in front of prison wardens. Dalindyebo was first admitted to Life St Dominic’s Hospital in East London on January 8 and discharged on Friday January 15.

Dalindyebo started serving his 12-year sentence last month after unsuccessfully trying several legal avenues to avoid jail. His crimes involved the treatment he meted out to some of his subjects in 1995 and 1996.