APA-Pretoria (South Africa) South Africa’s Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola has served a 90-day notice to end a contract under which a private security firm managed one of the country’s prisons.
Announcing the termination of the contract with G4S security firm on Tuesday, Lamola said the move was a direct fallout from the controversy surrounding the escape of murderer-rapist Thabo Bester from the privately run Mangaung Correctional Centre in the Free State province last year.
“The notice to terminate follows a legal opinion that the ministry had sought. It has been deemed that the security firm is not suitable to continue with the contract,” Lamola said.
He added: “In line with the concession contract agreement, a termination notice for a period of 90 days has been served to G4S, and thereafter, the contract will cease to operate.”
Bester is alleged to have connived with his girlfriend Nandipha Magudumana and G4S officials to escape from the Mangaung prison in May 2022.
Some prison officials allegedly covered up the escape by pretending that Bester had committed suicide by burning his cell.
Bester and Magudumana were rearrested in Tanzania last month together with a Mozambican national.
NM/jn/APA