South African prisons are intact, Lamola gives assurance
Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola reportedly assured South Africans the country’s prisons are not porous centres synonymous with escapes. Lamola made these remarks on Thursday, 18 May during his budget speech for his department, News24 reported. PRISON POPULATION OF OVER 157 000 He said South Africa has a prison population of more than 157 000 […]
Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola reportedly assured South Africans the country’s prisons are not porous centres synonymous with escapes.
Lamola made these remarks on Thursday, 18 May during his budget speech for his department, News24 reported.
PRISON POPULATION OF OVER 157 000
He said South Africa has a prison population of more than 157 000 and over the last financial year, 27 prisoners escaped from the country’s prisons
“In the last financial year, out of an inmate population of 157 056, a total of 27 inmates escaped, which represents a percentage of less than 0.017%.,” said Lamola as quoted by the report.
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THABO BESTER’S ESCAPE
EWN reported that Lamola acknowledged the notorious escape of convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester from Mangaung Correctional Centre (MCC).
He assured South Africa that the country’s prisons are not porous centres for escape.
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“We do acknowledge that one escape from lawful custody is one too many, and we continue to work towards strengthening our security and adherence to standard operating procedures,” the report quoted Lamola as saying.
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G4S CONTRACT TERMINATION
The company that was responsible for the prison security at the time of Bester’s escape, G4S has been served with a 90-day termination notice.
Lamola announced that his department will do away with the department’s public-private partnership correctional centres at two centres.
“The Mangaung Correctional Centre will be part of the Correctional Services portfolio in about two months, whilst Kutama Sinthumule Correctional Centre will be taken over in 2027,” said Lamola as quoted by the report.
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