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TimesLIVE reports that Department of Correctional Services (DCS) Minister Pieter Groenewald has advised that officials who were found to be implicated in the prison escape by murderer and rapist Thabo Bester have been reassigned and have received final written warnings.
This after Public Protector advocate Kholeka Gcakela released a report on Monday which found there was “undue delay” in reporting Bester's elaborate escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre in May 2022. The privately owned prison is run by the international security company G4S. The report found that DCS officials Roseline Phahlane and Chris Mahonono committed improper conduct by taking six months to report the escape. It was initially believed Bester died when his cell caught on fire and a body burnt beyond recognition was found. The two officials were informed of the bogus death and escape in June 2022, but the DCS officially opened an escape case with the police in January 2023. DCS spokesperson Euné Oelofsen indicated: “While the minister acknowledges the officials were slow to report the escape, he firmly asserts G4S bears significant responsibility for the incident. G4S was tasked with ensuring such an escape did not occur.” Groenewald emphasised such behaviour was unacceptable, and assured the public that stricter consequence management would be implemented to avoid similar incidents during his tenure.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Rorisang Kgosana at TimesLIVE
- Read too, Prison officials who failed to report Thabo Bester's escape have been 'reassigned', says Groenewald, at News24 (registration required)
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page