Parliament, Wednesday, 6 March 2024 – The Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services today held a preparatory meeting to discuss focus areas for its engagements with stakeholders later this month regarding the allegations around convicted “Facebook” rapist and murderer Thabo Bester’s escape from prison in 2022. It was first alleged that Bester had died in a fire in the Mangaung Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein where he was incarcerated. Later, however, it became clear that he had faked his own death and escaped, allegedly with the help of others. Last year, the committee held engagements with several stakeholders to understand more about what had happened. These stakeholders included the Department of Correctional Services (DCS), the South African Police Services, G4S – the private company managing Mangaung Correctional Centre, and the Judicial Inspectorate of Correctional Services (JICS). The Chairperson of the subcommittee on Correctional Services, Mr Qubudile Dyantyi, today briefed the meeting on plans for upcoming engagements and possible focus areas to continue the committee’s work from last year. “We will look at the focus areas and outstanding issues from our previous engagements. We need answers. All stakeholders have had close to a year to gather the information we requested and to update us on what has since occurred,” he said. The committee was then briefed by its content advisor, Mr Mpho Mathabathe, regarding the proposed outline of the forthcoming meetings. The committee heard that one proposed focus area for the meeting could include lifestyle audits of G4S officials, as was requested by the JICS. The committee would like a detailed report on whether this was done. Other areas for the committee’s attention are the G4S’s further investigations and disciplinary proceedings, with details of investigations against G4S officials and of any amendments that G4S might have made to its report on the escape. For example, the G4S initially said that Bester was moved to a vacant single cell, but it later emerged that another inmate was moved from his cell, making Bester the single occupant. Engagements are also required with the JICS on whether it assisted whistle blowers to be transferred to other correctional centres for their own safety. DCS will also have to provide a breakdown of the measures it has since put in place to alert the public timeously when a dangerous criminal escapes. Discussions are also needed on the findings of the National Commission on Correctional Services’ report, which were based on the investigation report commissioned by the G4S Controller of Mangaung Correctional Facility and be briefed on disciplinary sanctions imposed on transgressors. Several committee members today also raised concerns about the DSC’s contract with G4S and the penalties issued in the event of security breaches. The Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services Chairperson, Mr Bulelani Magwanishe, said the committee has noted committee members’ input requesting that the committee’s engagement should not be restricted to only these focus areas. Two days have been set aside for the engagement and the committee is likely to meet on 19 and 20 March 2024 to conclude this matter. ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON JUSTICE AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR BULELANI MAGWANISHE. For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact the committee’s Media Officer: Name: Rajaa Azzakani (Ms) Tel: 021 403 8437 Cell: 081 703 9542 E-mail: razzakani@parliament.gov.za
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