The Department of Correctional Services is moving forward with plans to take control of two private correctional facilities, including the infamous Mangaung Correctional Centre, following a high-profile series of events. The Mangaung facility gained national attention due to Thabo Bester’s dramatic prison escape in 2022, where he allegedly staged his own death by setting his cell on fire. A body, later identified as Katleho Mothusi Bereng, was found in his place, leading to a massive investigation.
In a Parliamentary session on November 26, the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services confirmed that the transition process for Mangaung, along with the Kutama-Sinthumule Correctional Centre, is progressing smoothly. The Mangaung Correctional Centre, operated by the British security company G4S since 2001, will see its contract expire in June 2026. A special Takeover Task Team has been appointed to manage the transition of both centres, ensuring that operations are smoothly handed over to the Department of Correctional Services once the current contracts conclude.
Committee chairperson, Kgomotso Anthea Ramolobeng, commended the progress, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the planned transition schedules. However, she also highlighted challenges uncovered during the takeover preparations, particularly non-compliance issues at Mangaung, which led the department to issue a 90-day termination notice to Bloemfontein Correctional Contracts in May 2023. The termination has sparked legal action, as the company sought an urgent court interdict to challenge the department’s decision, potentially delaying the transition process.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the department remains committed to proceeding with the takeover as soon as possible, pending the court’s final decision. Ramolobeng noted that while the issue of inmates lacking identity documents was raised—another complication brought to light by the Bester case—the department is taking steps to address this concern.
The Department of Correctional Services plans to begin the handover process for the Mangaung Centre six months before the contract ends in 2026, with the committee closely monitoring the progress. The focus now is on ensuring that the Department is fully prepared to manage these facilities and prevent further incidents.
