Bloemfontein, South Africa — The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has confirmed it is investigating a case of murder following the death of inmate Mpho Mkhumbeni at the notorious Mangaung Correctional Centre — the same facility that once housed Thabo Bester, the convicted rapist and murderer who made global headlines with his dramatic 2022 prison escape.
Mkhumbeni, who died last month, was initially reported to have succumbed to an asthma attack. But his family’s suspicions were tragically confirmed after a post-mortem revealed signs of blunt force trauma and complications from pepper spray exposure — contradicting earlier explanations.
The revelation has triggered a full-scale murder probe and placed Mangaung Correctional Centre back under the spotlight, intensifying scrutiny around alleged inmate abuse and mismanagement at the facility.
“This was not a natural death,” the DCS confirmed in a statement. “We are treating this matter with the seriousness it deserves. There will be accountability.”
Previously operated by G4S, the privately run prison has faced widespread criticism for lax security, controversial inmate treatment, and poor oversight — with many pointing to the Thabo Bester escape as just one symptom of deeper systemic issues.
Mkhumbeni’s family is demanding justice, with civil rights groups now calling for a full independent inquiry into conditions at the prison and broader oversight of South Africa’s correctional system.
