The department of correctional services says it wants to lay a complaint against one of Najwa Petersen's lawyers after he interviewed her in jail on behalf of a newspaper.

The interview, headlined "20 questions with Najwa", was published in the Cape Argus on Monday.

The newspaper said the questions were sent "via her attorney, Shahied Schrueder, who is assisting her with decisions on the future of her daughter, Zaynab".

Petersen is in the Breede River women's prison, where she is serving a 28-year sentence for the murder of her husband, Taliep Petersen.

The department said in a statement that Schrueder had behaved unethically.

He had applied for a "legal visit", which was granted in line with legislation that allowed every inmate to "consult on any legal matter with a legal practitioner".

"However, it is clear from the media report tht instead of consulting with the offender on a legal matter, the attorney facilitated a media enquiry," the department said.

This was totally intolerable.

The department intended to report Schrueder to the law societies of South Africa and the Cape of Good Hope.

Schrueder could not be reached for comment on Thursday afternoon.