Correctional Services Dept's legal battle to gain control of Mangaung prison delayed

JOHANNESBURG - The Department of Correctional Services (DCS)’s legal battle to gain control over Mangaung prison in Bloemfontein has been delayed. 

The prison is where convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester escaped in May 2022. 

DCS has been trying to terminate its contract with Bloemfontein Correctional Contracts (BCC). 

BCC is a South African registered company, which the department contracted to design, construct, operate, maintain and finance the Mangaung Correctional Centre in 2001. 

BCC then subcontracted British private security company G4S to manage the prison. 

The DCS has for the past two years been trying to terminate its agreement with BCC following Bester’s escape.

This week, the department argued that G4S should not be part of the legal proceedings as their concession agreement is with BCC.

Judge Elizabeth Kubushi granted an order in favour of DCS, ruling that G4S not participate in the matter. 

G4S has since appealed the judge Kubushi’s order. 

The matter has been postponed to allow the appeal process to be finalised.