Dear Editor
The DA calls on the Minister of Correctional Services, Pieter Groenewald, to appear before the Portfolio Committee to explain the lack of consequence management within the Department of Correctional Services (DCS). This follows the damning revelations about the escape of Thabo Bester from Mangaung Correctional Centre, which have exposed the Department’s failure to uphold its basic responsibilities.
Despite the Minister’s initial “tough talk,” the actions taken against the officials responsible for delaying the reporting of Bester’s escape have been woefully inadequate. These officials, who failed to promptly report the escape, were merely reassigned and given final written warnings – a grossly insufficient response to a case of such extreme negligence with far-reaching consequences.
The Public Protector’s scathing report underscores not only the delay in reporting Bester’s escape but also DCS’s alarming negligence. It took more than six months for the department to alert the police, despite knowing the body found in Bester’s cell was not his. This inexcusable failure put public safety at risk, allowing a convicted murderer and rapist to remain free for nearly a year.
What is most disturbing is the absence of real accountability. The officials responsible for delaying the reporting of this catastrophic failure have faced little more than reassignments, with no serious disciplinary action. This sends a dangerous message that there are no meaningful consequences for negligence in the DCS, perpetuating the culture of impunity that has plagued the department for years. When officials are not held accountable, it undermines public trust and weakens the justice system as a whole.
While G4S, the private security company contracted to prevent such incidents, also shares responsibility, DCS cannot deflect blame. The department is ultimately accountable for ensuring the proper functioning of its facilities and overseeing the actions of its contractors. The significant lapses in DCS’s oversight reveal that the department is equally at fault for this monumental failure.
The DA has long called for stricter consequence management in DCS, especially in light of the ongoing contraband crisis in prisons.
Regards
Janho Engelbrecht MP
DA Spokesperson on Correctional Services
Runway Darling
What\’s the difference between an ANC MP and a flying pig?
The letter F.
petite flurry
A baby was born in South Africa. The village was very poor, and the makeshift hospital didn\’t have some necessary equipment.. such as scales.
The father however, was desperate to know the newborn baby\’s weight. After quite a bit of asking around, the hospital\’s chairman came up with an idea.
\”Five miles west, there\’s a butcher shop. The owner deals with meat, he should have a rather precise scale. You could just put your baby on the meat scale, and the weight reading you\’ll get should be pretty accurate.\”
And so the father departed westward. After much walking, with his newborn child cardled safely in his arms, he finally arrived at the butcher shop. He explained his dilemma to the shop owner, to witch the latter replied:
\”Don\’t worry, friend. It\’s not even a problem, I\’ll check it for you, free of charge.\” And so he took the child to the back, where the scale was located.
The father heard rumbling noises, and some scraping.. About a minute later the butcher came back.
\”About three pounds boneless\” He said.