Pretoria: The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has announced plans to initiate disciplinary proceedings against senior managers and officials implicated in multiple incidents at correctional facilities in the Western Cape. This move follows a series of internal investigations into incidents, such as erroneous inmate releases, inmate deaths, and attacks on officials, as revealed by DCS National Commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale during a media briefing.

According to South African Government News Agency, these investigations were conducted under the Correctional Services Act, 111 of 1998, with objectives that included establishing facts, ensuring accountability, restoring public confidence, and implementing appropriate corrective and disciplinary actions. The matters were made public due to their impact on public safety, human rights, staff security, and the integrity of the correctional system. Thobakgale emphasized the need for transparency to maintain public trust and demonstrate accountability in managing correctional centres lawfully and ethically.

Thobakgale highlighted incidents at the Oudtshoorn Correctional Centre and the Pollsmoor Remand Detention Facility. In Oudtshoorn, an altercation in August last year resulted in one inmate’s death and injuries to four officials. The investigation found that offender Simphiwe Celise played a leading role in the attack on correctional officials, and his death was classified as unnatural. The investigation revealed management’s failure to anticipate retaliation, inadequacies in risk assessment, and lack of command and control.

At Pollsmoor, the erroneous release of inmate Thembalethu Inganathi Daba occurred after he impersonated another detainee. The investigation determined this was a deliberate escape facilitated by operational failures. In another incident, two correctional officials were attacked by detainees, leading to the detainees’ deaths. The investigation identified security breaches and failure in risk assessment and gang management protocols.

Thobakgale stated that disciplinary action would be taken against implicated officials and managers across both facilities while implementing corrective measures to address systemic weaknesses and prevent recurrence.