Saftu: Govt must 'immediately' terminate G4S contract
The South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) has called on government to immediately terminate the G4S contract to run the Mangaung correctional facility.
Saftu is the latest to react to dramatic escape of convicted rapist and murder Bester escaped from the maximum-security Mangaung prison in May last year by faking his own death.
The private security company runs the facility in Bloemfontein in a 25-year public-private partnership with government.
The contract is expected to run until 2026.
In a statement the federation said the partnerships are not helping the government in terms of costs, and create a two-tier prison system unnecessarily.
"It is clear that government is not getting any value for its money, the Private Public Partnerships are just a ploy to socialise risks on behalf of private companies whilst allowing them companies to privatise profits.
"The prevailing myths that privately run institutions are efficient, competent, and cost effective for government have been shattered by the Thabo Bester saga and the revelations of how much government spends in these Private-Public Partnerships (PPPs)."
"SAFTU is calling on the parliamentarians to recommend to the Department of Correctional Service an immediate termination of the contract with G4S and the subsequent takeover of the facility by the government."
Four other people have since been arrested in connection with Bester's escape.
Bester and his accomplice Dr Nandipha Magudumana arrived in South Africa on Thursday following their deportation from Tanazania.
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