-
[FILE IMAGE]: An empty prison cell.
The Department of Correctional services has assured the public that the Ebongweni Super Maximum Correctional Facility, in Kokstad in the southern KwaZulu-Natal is the most secure prison in Africa, saying chances of escaping for prisoners are close to none.
This week convicted serial rapist and murder, Thabo Bester was transferred to the correctional centre, while earlier this month attempted murder-accused Vusumuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala was also transferred to the same facility from Kgosi Mampuru Prison in Pretoria.
In May 2022, Bester escaped from Mangaung Prison in Bloemfontein by faking his death. KwaZulu-Natal Correctional Services Commissioner, Mnikelwa Nxele says offenders and those who visit the Ebongweni prison are monitored around the clock.
“Nothing is guaranteed under the sun, but we want to assure the south Africans that nobody will come out from that centre. We have systems and infrastructure in place that assist in the holistic approach to ensure that no offender can come out or escape. We have the ability to see offenders round the clock, we have the capabilities to monitor offenders, we have the capabilities to search everybody who enter the facility and ensure the offenders only have the bare minimum of items in their possession.”
Meanwhile, the correctional facility is known for housing some of the country’s notorious and dangerous inmates. These include serial rapist Mongezi Jingxela who is regarded as one of the worst sex offenders in South African history, the sugarcane serial killer Thozamile Taki, and gang boss George ‘Geweld’ Thomas.
Nxele says the facility has maintained a clean record of no escapes since it was opened in 2002.
“Our most priority is to secure our facilities to ensure that all those kept in our care are there until their release. Indeed history, practice and performance show that the region or the province of KwaZulu-Natal is maintaining that high standard of ensuring that we have no or minimal incidents occurring.”
RELATED VIDEO | Bester transferred to eBongweni Correctional Facility:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUQKs3jEU7s
