Department of correctional services terminates contract with G4S

The department of correctional services has decided to terminate its contract with the private security company G4S that was in charge of running the Mangaung correctional centre following the daring escape of Thabo Bester from the facility.  

The department’s spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said the department has given the Bloemfontein correctional contracts, which include its subsidiaries such as G4S, a termination notice for a period of 90 days in line with the concession agreement. 

“The notice of termination follows the announcement on 20 April 2023 by department of correctional services that it had referred its contract with Bloemfontein correctional contracts for a legal opinion. It has been deemed that Bloemfontein correctional contracts is neither competent, nor suitable to continue with the concession contract,” Nxumalo said. 

“Bloemfontein correctional contracts is contracted to operate the Mangaung correctional centre, a public private partnership facility. The department will immediately resume with an internal exercise for the takeover process. The contract does lay down a procedure to be followed in this regard.” 

Bester escaped from the Mangaung facility after setting his cell on fire and staging his fake death last May.  

He was arrested along side his partner in love and crime, Dr Nandipha Magudumana in Tanzania two weeks ago. 

So far, seven people have been arrested in connection with the escape, including Magudumana’s 65-year-old father. 

sibiyan@sowetan.co.za