WATCH: Officials raid Thabo Bester’s former ‘home’ Mangaung Prison

Prisoners at the Mangaung Correctional Centre (MCC), the former “home” of notorious Facebook rapist Thabo Bester, were subjected to a surprise raid by Correctional Services officials in search of contraband and other prohibited items.

Inmates were ordered to kneel on the floor with their hands against the wall while prison officials searched their cells. Mattresses were inspected, toilet rims checked and even light fixtures scrutinised for any hidden illegal items.

The raid was led by National Commissioner of the Department of Correctional Services Makgothi Thobakgale on Thursday.

Watch Correctional Services officials searching inmates cells at the Mangaung Correctional Centre

@NqobileMadlala_ #Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/2leqAFTBHr

— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) November 28, 2024

ALSO READ: Correctional Services committee urged to implement PP report on Bester escape [VIDEO]

Raid

The raid coincided with the launch of Operation Vala earlier in the day, an initiative spearheaded by Thobakgale to enhance security across all 243 prisons ahead of the festive season.

Bester escaped from Mangaung Correctional Centre, a privately run maximum-security prison, in May 2022. He faked his death in a cell fire, allegedly with the help of celebrity doctor Nandipha Magudumana and several prison officials. He and Magudumana were arrested in April 2023 and are currently awaiting trial.

Thobakgale said the raid is part of the department’s festive season security plan.

“We are part of the Justice Crime Prevention and Security cluster. We have our own brief of ensuring that in correctional settings, security is heightened, the officials and offenders are safe.”

The MCC, run by G4S, came under fire after Bester’s escape.

In May last year, Justice and Correctional Services Minister, Ronald Lamola, confirmed G4S was served with a notice for the cancellation of the contract to run Mangaung Correctional Centre.

[WATCH] Correctional Services has launched Operation Vala to improve safety, security and compliance in correctional facilities during the festive season. Officials are now conducting a surprise search operation at the
privately managed Mangaung Correctional Centre in… pic.twitter.com/3UcTicdXiV

— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) November 28, 2024

Bester escape

In October, the Parliamentary Legal Services said the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services had a constitutional duty of overseeing and monitoring the implementation of the Public Protector’s (PP) report on the escape of Bester.

The Public Protector launched an investigation in March 2023 after receiving a complaint from a member of the public that the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) had failed the public in its handling of the escape.

In a clear statement of intent, the National Commissioner of DCS, Makgothi Thobakgale is tonight (28 November 2024) leading a search operation at Mangaung Correctional Centre.He indicated that this operation is the first of many that will be rolled out during the festive season. pic.twitter.com/aDEUqZjLwm

— The Department Correctional Services 🇿🇦 (@DCS_ZA) November 28, 2024

‘Undue delay’

Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka found that there was “undue delay” in the way the DCS handled convicted murderer and rapist Bester’s prison escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre.

 Two officials have already faced disciplinary hearings and received final written warnings.

The matter of Bester’s escape is currently before the court and sub judice. Simani said in the context of the National Assembly, Rule 89 amounts to a prohibition against any committee member from making reference to any matter before the courts.

ALSO READ: Assessment of Thabo Bester cell showed ‘security violations’, says DCS