Question NW270 to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
25 March 2024 - NW270
Msimang, Prof CT to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
(1)In light of the recent mass resignations and suspensions following the report of the Department of Correctional Services on the investigation into the escape of Mr Thabo Bester from the Mangaung Correctional Centre (MCC) in May 2022, (a) what impact will this have on the ability of the Mangaung Correctional Centre (MCC) facility to operate as a centre for correctional services and (b) do the specified resignations involve critical staff who may now leave the institution open to security threats; (2) whether there is a plan to recruit replacement staff within a period of 60 days to fill all vacancies; if not, why not; if so what are the relevant details?
Reply:
(1)(a) The resignations have not impacted operations as the Contractor has built-in a capacity to train more that required security staff for any disturbance that may arise at the Centre.
(1)(b) The affected staff was from security the Contractor has accordingly trained enough staff for security functions and it is therefore easy to replace the resigned and dismissed staff.
(2) The current available plan is designed to replace the resigned and dismissed staff within a period of a month (30 days). There are people who underwent security training and were vetted by the authorised institution as well as DCS Training Standards. The trained officials await vacancies that may arise from the Centre as and when they arise, details of these individuals are provided to DCS for certification, it is only after certification has been granted by DCS that the Contractor appoints the individuals.
END