Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola, addressed Parliament to provide reassurance regarding the security of correctional centers in South Africa following the high-profile escape of convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester. Lamola emphasized that the country’s correctional centers were not porous despite the escape and stated that the private management contract with G4S for the Mangaung Correctional Centre would be terminated in two months.
The contract with G4S was canceled in response to Bester’s escape from the prison in May 2022, which garnered significant attention. Lamola acknowledged that while any escape from custody was concerning, the number of prison breakouts in South Africa remained relatively low. He revealed that over the previous financial year, only 27 inmates had escaped, which accounted for less than 1% of the total prison population.
Lamola made it clear that Bester’s escape did not reflect poorly on the overall state of security within the country’s prisons. He acknowledged the importance of continually improving security measures and adhering to standard operating procedures to prevent future escapes. Lamola also informed the Parliament that the 90-day notice period for terminating G4S’s contract at the Mangaung Correctional Centre had already begun.
According to Lamola, the Mangaung Correctional Centre would be incorporated into the Correctional Services portfolio within two months, while the Kutama Sinthumule Correctional Centre would be taken over in 2027. However, opposition parties criticized Lamola for not terminating the G4S contract sooner, expressing concerns about the delay in addressing the security issues.
Lamola’s statement aimed to provide assurance that the escape of Thabo Bester was an isolated incident and did not reflect systemic flaws within the correctional system. By highlighting the relatively low number of prison escapes, he sought to emphasize that South Africa’s correctional centers were not plagued by frequent breakouts.The decision to terminate the contract with G4S for the Mangaung Correctional Centre was a direct response to Bester’s escape, which exposed vulnerabilities in the existing management arrangement.
Lamola stressed the importance of strengthening security measures and adhering to standard operating procedures to prevent future escapes.The announcement that the Mangaung Correctional Centre would be integrated into the Correctional Services portfolio in two months indicated a shift toward direct government control and management of the facility. This decision likely stemmed from concerns about the effectiveness of private management and the need for greater accountability.
However, the planned takeover of the Kutama Sinthumule Correctional Centre in 2027 raised questions among opposition parties. They criticized Lamola for not expediting the termination of the G4S contract and expressed concerns about the delay in addressing security issues at the facility. Opposition members argued that immediate action was necessary to ensure the safety and security of both staff and inmates.
Minister Ronald Lamola sought to reassure Parliament that South Africa’s correctional centers were not porous despite the escape of Thabo Bester. Lamola acknowledged the need for continuous improvement in security measures and adherence to standard operating procedures. The termination of the contract with G4S for the Mangaung Correctional Centre demonstrated the government’s commitment to addressing the vulnerabilities exposed by Bester’s escape. However, opposition parties criticized the delayed termination and called for swift action to ensure the safety and security of correctional facilities in the country.
Mboma Mboma