[LISTEN] Masutha slams political “desperation” after Free State warden death
Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Michael Masutha has slammed what he calls “political desperation” in the wake of the death of a female prison warden in the Free State.
On Friday, On Friday two female officials were held hostage by a sentenced prisoner in an office at the Goedemoed prison. Both were stabbed with one dying during the near three-hour saga.
Following this, the Congress of the People (COPE) said Masutha should take full responsibility for the tragedy.
COPE spokesperson, Dennis Bloem says the minister is ignoring the challenge of prisons being understaffed.
Also Read: Department of Correctional Services taking hostage drama 'very seriously'
Masutha has however called on those “who have taken an opportunistic advantage of this tragedy to act with sensitivity and show respect to the families”.
"To try and speculate as to the circumstances that led to this so soon, and to start making this kind of insinuation, just shows the level of political desperation during the electoral season that we find ourselves, and I think it’s very insensitive to the families of those affected,” said Masutha.
The minister says they are expecting a full assessment of the protocols regulating the interaction of officials and inmates at the Goedemoed Correctional center.
"We cannot afford to have a similar incident recurring at any point, therefore we have to find the glitch in our systems that has placed our two officials in harm's way," Masutha said.