CORRECTIONAL Services national commissioner Thomas Moyane has visited the family of the Mamelodi East prison warder gunned down mafia-style last week.

It is believed that 51-year-old Thomas Moraka Malamatsho was assassinated as he was a key witness in the 2003 Pretoria C-Max prison escape in which two warders were killed.

Malamatsho was gunned down at his house by his two killers. The murder marked the second attempt on Malamatsho's life. The first attack was in 2008 when gunmen opened fire on his house.

The commissioner expressed shock and anger at Malamatsho's murder.

"It is shocking that our officials have become targets of heartless criminals and we need to organise ourselves to ensure that something like this does not happen again.

"I am proud that he fell as a hero in the course of duty and we should emulate his heroism. I promise that this will not happen again."

Asked why no steps were taken to protect Malamatsho after the first attempt on his life, the commissioner said it happened before he took office and refused to be further engaged on the matter.

"We will offer moral and psychological support to the family to help them deal with this traumatic experience."

This was, however, little comfort to the deceased's elder brother Wilbert.

"They (the department) knew about the first attempt on my brother's life but did nothing."

Malamatsho's funeral arrangements will be finalised today.