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Raid at the Mangaung Correctional Centre
Officials from the Department of Correctional Services have conducted a surprise search at Mangaung Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein.
This is the facility where convicted rapist and murderer Thabo escaped from in 2022.
The raid was led by National Commissioner of the Department of Correctional Services Makgothi Thobakgale.
The operation is to rid the facility of contraband.
Officials from the Department of Correctional Services are conducting a surprise search at Mangaung Correctional Center in Bloemfontein. This is the facility where convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester escaped from in 2022 . Pictures by Palesa Matshane pic.twitter.com/TymbUyT2Qn
— SABC News (@SABCNews) November 28, 2024
Meanwhile, Thobakgale believes that the department’s Operation Vala has previously proved to have been a success in keeping inmates occupied during the festive season.
Thobakgale was speaking during the operation’s national launch in Bloemfontein.
He says Correctional Services will be intensifying indoor recreational programmes designed to engage both the body and mind of inmates.
Thobakgale further explained that such activities instill discipline, resilience and personal development in inmates.
“The first test is a number of incidents that could have taken place, during the festive season. Secondly is the willingness and excitement of offenders to go back to formal programmes, for example registering offenders into formal programmes such as basic education programmes. So, we measure that interest also the interest to do rehabilitation programmes, the interest for working for enterprises that we have for skills development within correctional facilities.”
