Central SA
‘Termination of Mangaung prison contract could cost government millions’─── TSHEHLA KOTELI 08:51 Thu, 03 Aug 2023
The opposition party has expressed its views that the Minister of Correctional Services Ronald Lamola’s decision to terminate Bloemfontein Correctional Contracts' (BCC) contract could cost millions.
The minister announced weeks ago that the BCC, which subcontracted G4S to run the Bloemfontein-based Mangaung Correctional Centre, will no longer be in charge of the prison. DA’s Janho Engelbrecht said before Lamola took the decision to terminate the contract, they warned him that there will be negative consequences of the decision.
As the date for the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) and G4S to cut ties nears an end, the Gauteng High Court has ordered mediation before the termination is concluded.
“During the Portfolio Committee meeting where all roleplayers in the Thabo Bester escape saga were questioned by Members, the DA warned that there is a mediation clause in the contract and that Minister Lamola can’t terminate it, as he indicated he would do. The DA again raised concerns about the financial risk the department would be exposed to after Lamola commenced with steps to summarily terminate the contract.”
The opposition also alleges that it has come to their attention that Lamola’s department was not sufficiently prepared to run the Mangaung Prison. “The DA will request the Portfolio Committee Chairperson, Gratitude Magwanishe, to urgently request that DCS provides proof of their ability and readiness to take control of the Mangaung facility to the committee.”
Mangaung Correctional Centre placed in spotlight
The prison was put in the spotlight when it was brought to light that convicted Facebook rapist Thabo Bester did not burn to death in his cell in May 2022, he instead escaped. After DNA proved that it was not Bester’s body which burned in the cell, Lamola said there will be serious consequences for those found to have been involved in the escape.
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The department since appeared before the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services, where it was questioned how Bester was able to escape from the prison. Since then, pressure mounted on the minister to make a move that would show he will hold those who aided Bester accountable. After several arrests of G4S officials, Lamola took a decision in April that the department will cut ties with the private company.
