Mpho Mkhumbeni (39), an inmate serving a life sentence for murder, died on 12 March 2025 at the G4S-managed facility after being rushed to the prison’s in-house hospital. 

He was declared dead on arrival. Mkhumbeni had been serving his sentence at MCC since 28 November 2014, following his conviction earlier that month. Initial reports suggested that Mkhumbeni collapsed in his cell, but conflicting accounts from G4S staff prompted the DCS to launch a full-scale investigation. 

Serious protocol breaches

Free State police spokesperson, Captain Loraine Earle, confirmed that a case was initially opened at Bloemspruit police station on the day of Mkhumbeni’s death. “The investigation started, and the post-mortem results were received by Bloemspruit police station on Wednesday, 2 April. The inquest was then changed to murder,” she said.

DCS Commissioner Makgothi Samuel Thobakgale, said early findings revealed serious breaches of protocol by G4S.

“The investigation moved further to confirm that G4S, which is a private contractor operating the prison on behalf of the department, failed to adhere to its obligations under the concession contract,” Thobakgale stated.

“In essence, senior managers, who were required to provide oversight during and after the search, failed to intervene or report the assault. Their claims of not witnessing the incident have been found to lack credibility. 

“Even more concerning, G4S and its employees sought to conceal the truth and obscure the investigation. This is viewed in serious light as it is tantamount to defeating the ends of justice,” he added.

Thobakgale said the Temporary manager appointed by the department took swift action, withdrawing the operational certificate of G4S Director of Operations, Derrick de Klerk. G4S had already suspended several employees, including Manager of Operations Anneke La Grange, Security Supervisor Ida Malangabe, and DST officials Boitumelo Mooi, Cedric Motshabi, Lebogang Martins, and Mosioua Tanyane.

Thobakgale said  DCS was formally informed of Mkhumbeni’s death on 12 March, but questions quickly arose about the events leading up to it. 

Thobakgale said investigations confirmed that a cell search had been conducted by G4S’s Dedicated Search Team (DST) on the evening of 11 March without notifying the Temporary Manager appointed by the department, a violation of protocol.

“The contractor (G4S) arranged and conducted a search exercise on 11 March 2025 without informing the Temporary Manager, an appointee of DCS, who ought to have been part of the search operation,” he explained.

Later that same evening, DST officials reportedly returned to the cell after one of them misplaced a backpack containing R800. 

“During this return visit, the four inmates in the cell were interrogated, allegedly assaulted, and tortured over the missing money,” Thobakgale said.

‘Complications related to pepper spray exposure’

He said these claims were initially denied by G4S and the DST officials, but the department’s investigation confirmed a direct link between the events of 11 and 12 March.

A post-mortem confirmed that Mkhumbeni died from complications related to pepper spray exposure and blunt force trauma, findings that directly contradict the initial version of events.

Thobakgale confirmed that legal proceedings are underway to terminate the department’s contract with G4S, saying the latest development strengthens the department’s position in taking over the facility.

The Mangaung Correctional Centre has previously come under fire, most notably in the high-profile escape of convicted Facebook rapist Thabo Bester in May 2022. While it was initially believed that Bester died in a fire in his cell, DNA testing later confirmed it was not his body. 

The scandal led to widespread outrage and prompted the then Correctional Services Minister, Ronald Lamola, to pledge accountability for those involved.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi mvh