PRETORIA- A surprise matlala-s-cell/ar-AA1Ifhif?ocid=BingNewsSerp">raid at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Facility in Pretoria has exposed alleged corruption among prison wardens, highlighting serious security concerns within South Africa’s correctional system. Conducted on Tuesday evening, the operation was led by National Commissioner of Correctional Services, Makgothi Samuel Thobakgale, with prison officials targeting dozens of cells to uncover contraband and illicit activities.
The raid revealed a range of prohibited items, including packets of crystal meth and marijuana, dozens of cellphones, cartons of cigarettes, and illegal electrical wiring hidden in light fittings. Authorities noted that the operation aimed to disrupt the trafficking and use of drugs and other contraband within the facility, including its high-security C-Max section. The prison’s dilapidated state—marked by cracked and peeling walls, broken windows, and narrow, echoing corridors—added to the chaotic scene as officials, accompanied by the sound of boots and shouts, conducted thorough searches.
Prisoners were lined up outside their cells, sitting in long rows with heads bowed and hands on their heads, under the watch of heavily armed guards. Commissioner Thobakgale vowed to hold officials accountable, stating, “Officials will have to explain how they allow that to happen. We have shifts that work in the day, and we have shifts that work in the night. So, there is no time within the 24-hour cycle where there’s no official.” He emphasized that the raids are part of a broader campaign to eliminate contraband and dismantle criminal networks operating within correctional facilities.
The operation follows similar raids at other facilities, such as Baviaanspoort Correctional Centre, where inmates were found using smuggled cellphones to run scams. Thobakgale has ordered forensic analysis of the confiscated devices to trace the extent of criminal activities and support further legal action. He also directed prison management to submit a comprehensive plan to address security lapses and prevent future smuggling.
The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has handed over the seized items to the South African Police Service (SAPS) for further investigation. Authorities stressed that the operation is ongoing, with efforts continuing to root out contraband and clamp down on illegal activity within the prison’s dilapidated walls. The findings have intensified scrutiny of prison oversight, with Thobakgale reaffirming a zero-tolerance approach to corruption and crime within the correctional system.
