The Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services has urged the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) to fill the 309 vacant posts at Grootvlei Maximum Correctional Centre by the end of September 2026, with priority given to former G4S employees who meet the inherent minimum requirements for the positions.
The committee made the call following an oversight visit to the Mangaung-based correctional centre on Tuesday, 4 August where members of he committee assessed conditions at the facility following its takeover by the DCS on 1 July 2026. The centre, formerly operated as a public-private partnership, it has capacity for 2 928 inmates and is currently operating at full capacity.
The committee said addressing the staffing shortage is critical to improving service delivery at the facility. Members welcomed the appointment of 310 of the 495 former G4S employees in the department following the transition to public management, but they stressed that suitably qualified former employees should receive preference as the remaining vacancies are filled. The committee further recommended that applicants who are unsuccessful be informed in writing of the reasons for their non-appointment.
Committee Chairperson, Ms Kgomotso Ramolobeng, said the committee remained concerned about the uncertainty facing former G4S employees who had not yet been absorbed into the department.
“The committee appreciates the progress made in appointing former G4S employees, but it said more needs to be done to ensure that suitably qualified individuals are afforded a fair opportunity to fill the remaining vacancies. “We sympathise with those who remain unemployed and have sought legal advice from Parliament’s Constitutional and Legal Services Office to better understand the legal implications and the committee’s oversight role as we explore possible avenues towards an amicable resolution,” said Ms Ramolobeng.
During the oversight visit, the committee also identified shortcomings in healthcare services and food safety measures. Members of the committee heard complaints from inmates about interruptions in the supply of chronic medication and allegations that some inmates had received incorrect medication. The committee emphasised that access to healthcare is a constitutional obligation that must be upheld in all correctional facilities.
The committee also raised concern after discovering that food samples for 1 August 2026 had not been retained in line with standard food safety and quality assurance procedures. It said the absence of food samples and food tasting records undermined accountability and could hamper investigations into food quality or suspected food-borne illnesses. The committee called on the department to strengthen compliance with food safety protocols and improve record management.
Justice Molafo
5 August 2026
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