Parliament to Conduct Oversight Visit at Mangaung Correctional Centre

Pretoria: The Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services will undertake an oversight visit to Mangaung Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein, Free State, to assess the facility following its takeover by the Department of Correctional Services (DCS). According to South African Government News Agency, the committee explained that the oversight visit on Tuesday, 4 August 2026, forms part of its constitutional mandate to oversee the work of DCS. The visit aims to assess the condition of the infrastructure inherited from the previous private contractor, address previous concerns, and evaluate the conditions under which inmates are incarcerated. The committee will also examine the implementation of rehabilitation programmes and initiatives related to self-sufficiency and sustainability at the centre. Additionally, there will be discussions with the department regarding operational challenges experienced since the takeover. The findings from this visit are expected to inform Parliament's oversight ahead of the pl anned takeover of the Kutama-Sinthumule Correctional Centre in Makhado, Limpopo, scheduled for February 2027.