Lamola: Govt ‘ultimately responsible’ for Thabo Bester escape
Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Ronald Lamola says the ultimate responsibility for the escape of convicted killer and rapist Thabo Bester lies with him and National Commissioner of Correctional Services Makgothi Thobakgale.
Lamola addressed the media shortly after the inauguration of aspirant prosecutors in Silverton on Thursday.
"It's a reality that myself and the national commissioner take the ultimate responsibility in terms of the Correctional Services Act. Even if there is an operator of the facility, we take the ultimate responsibility of whatever happens in that facility even if someone is operating. For that reason we have taken action in terms of the act and we will continue to account to the people of South Africa."
Bester has been on the run since making a daring escape from Mangaung Correctional Centre in May 2022.
It is believed that Bester faked his own death after he was assisted by three prison wardens working for G4S, a company that's in a public private partnership with the Correctional Services Department.
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Lamola says that the department is compelled to reconsider its contract with G4S following the recent turn of events.
"We are looking into the terms of contract with the national commissioner, with the legal advisors of the department are going to look at the contract that is there between the department and and G4S, and whether to check if this action warrants immediate termination of the contract or not and whether we have the capacity to take over or not.
"As you know, taking over also has other implications related to the capacity related to the workforce. All those issues are being looked into. The reality that we have appointed a new manager and director at a place will give us a clear picture of what has happened."
