42 prison officials have been involved in criminality since 2023, reveals Lamola
One of the officials was suspended for just three months for helping a prisoner escape in Johannesburg.
Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola. Picture: GCIS
CAPE TOWN - Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola has told Parliament that 42 prison officials have been involved in criminality since January last year.
One of the officials was suspended for just three months for helping a prisoner escape in Johannesburg.
The prison officials were reported for other crimes ranging from smuggling drugs and the alleged use of excessive force on an offender.
Lamola revealed this in a written parliamentary reply on Friday.
The Department of Correctional Services is no stranger to dealing with crimes committed by officials.
One of the more high-profile cases involves murderer and rapist Thabo Bester who escaped from the Mangaung Correctional Centre.
But Lamola says between 1 January 2023 and 31 January 2024 there were 42 reported cases of officials being involved in criminality.
He said the official received a three-month suspension without pay, with many others facing internal processes.
Lamola revealed that the total number of officials dismissed for acts of criminality stands at nine.
He said the department has conducted internal investigations and subjected officials to disciplinary hearings.
However, some of the officials resigned before the process unfolded.