This news aggregator site highlights South African labour news from a wide range of internet and print sources. Each posting has a synopsis of the source article, together with a link or reference to the original. Postings cover the range of labour related matters from industrial relations to generalist human resources.
News24 reports that Justice and Correctional Services Minister Michael Masutha wants answers about a hostage situation on Friday at the Goedemoed prison in the Free State in which an inmate stabbed a female warder to death and reportedly raped the surviving victim, also a warden at the facility.
The minister instructed the National Commissioner of Correctional Services, Arthur Fraser, to immediately go to the site and establish the facts surrounding the "unfortunate incident", and ensure that there was continuity of trauma counselling and other relevant employee assistance to staffers. The alleged perpetrator was placed in solitary confinement following his arrest on Friday night after the three-hour-long ordeal. Masutha said that the safety of staff was of paramount importance and his ministry viewed any attack on officials in a very serious light. But he dismissed claims that the incident might have occurred as a result of overcrowding, saying the prison was at 97% of its capacity. COPE Free State Premier candidate, Dennis Bloem, said the killing could be blamed on the severe staff shortage. He said: “Shortage of staff is the biggest problem facing the DCS and forever puts the lives of the DCS officials in danger. The Minister of Correctional Services and Justice, Michael Masutha and his Department are ignoring this problem and turning a blind eye to it."
- Read the full original of Pelane Phakgadi’s report on this story at News24
- Read COPE’s press statement at Politicsweb
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page