Temporary manager to head Mangaung correctional facility after escape furore

National commissioner for correctional services Makgothi Samuel Thobakgale has appointed a temporary manager at the Mangaung Correctional Centre after the “embarrassing” Thabo Bester debacle, which he said “undermined the authority of the state”.

The department of correctional services provided updates from the facility on Thursday morning.

Bester escaped from the centre on May 3 2022, the department confirmed, after it was initially believed that he had committed suicide by setting himself alight in his cell.

Security company G4S insisted Bester died in the fire, but confirmed it had dismissed three employees in relation to their conduct on the day.

Thobakgale said an investigation found that “the director of the Mangaung correctional services centre has lost effective control of the centre.

“Among other factors, the Correctional Services Act does provide for a mechanism to restore safety and security by taking control of the facility by means of appointing a temporary manager... In this instance, I have appointed Mr Patrick Ali Mashabathakga as the temporary manager.”

Thobakgale confirmed Bester was assisted in his escape. To this end, the director of contract management based at the department’s head office, the correctional services controller at Mangaung and deputy controller had been suspended.

“The departmental investigation unit has started looking into the conduct of the three officials and any other officials,” he said. “I have appointed Ms Gladys Rantente to be the serving controller on behalf of the department at Mangaung.”

The department had deployed a “track-and-trace team to look for Bester” and he appealed to those with any information to come forward.

His announcement comes as the justice and correctional services committee confirmed it would meet the department on Tuesday to discuss the matter.

“Indeed, government is embarrassed,” said minister in the presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni on Thursday.

Justice & correctional services minister Ronald Lamola, speaking after a keynote address on Thursday at the inauguration ceremony of more than 600 aspirant prosecutors, said: “The reality is that he must be arrested and recaptured, wherever it is. And whoever played a role to help [Bester] to escape from the facility must also be arrested. And whoever also played a role beyond the escape from the facility to help him outside and all those things, all of them must be people of interest.”