POPCRU wants government to scrap all private prisons
By: Natasha Archary
The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) is calling on government to scrap all private prisons in South Africa.
POPCRU President Zizamele Cebekhulu says private security companies that manage some of the country’s prisons, prioritize profit over people’s safety.
This after another G4S employee who is a prison warden at Mangaung Correctional Center was arrested on Wednesday, 19 April in connection with convicted rapist and murderer, Thabo Bester’s escape from the facility in May 2022.
A 51-year man was arrested on Tuesday, 18 April, at the Mangaung Correctional Center in Bloemfontein.
This brings the number of arrests to five in the case involving the convicted rapist and murderer.
Arrests made thus far include:
- Dr Nandipha Magudumana
- Dr Nandipha’s father – Zolile Sekeleni (65)
- Former G4S employee – Senohe Matsoara (39)
- CCTV Technician – Teboho Lipholo (44)
Cebekhulu said the time has come for government to accept their views which were first raised in 2015, for all private prisons in SA to be brought back to the mainstream which is public correctional services.
“After a meeting with the Department of Correctional Services, we weren’t impressed. This Thabo Bester embarrassment that we’ve had, it’s an embarrassment we’ve all had to deal with.
POPCRU is going to approach the National Executive Committee to reaffirm our position that Mangaung and all private correctional centers, including Kutuma Sinthumule, Limpopo must come back to public responsibility.
It is the responsibility of government to take custody of prisoners and rehabilitate them.”
POPCRU President Zizamele Cebekhulu says government must to away with private correctional centers
G4S is the private security company that manages the Mangaung Correctional Center in Bloemfontein, where Thabo Bester faked his death and escaped.
Two G4S employees have since been arrested, and the security company has come under scrutiny since Bester, who was serving a life sentence, escaped with the help of the company’s employees.
Bester is currently being held at Kgosi Mampuru C-Max Prison in Pretoria, and is expected back in court on 16 May.
Also read: Couple banned from FlySafAir for indecent behaviour on flight
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