Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola says private security company G4S has been given a notice of termination of contract for Mangaung Maximum Prison. Lamola says after seeking legal opinion, following systematic challenges over a number of years, and with the recent Thabo Bester escape, the department believes that G4S management is struggling to honour their contractual obligations.   

THREE MONTHS NOTICE

Lamola revealed this during Parliament's Justice Committee about the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) annual performance and budget this morning. "The notice to terminate follows that G4S sought legal opinion and it has been deemed that it is not suitable to continue with the contract. In line with the concession contract background, a termination notice over a period of 90 days has been served to the BCC and thereafter the contract will cease to operate," said Lamola.  

MORE ARRESTS 

Two more suspects were arrested yesterdat who linked to the Thabo Bester escape saga. According to SAPS National spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, the suspects are former employees of G4S and were arrested at their homes in Bloemfontein. Mathe said the pair will appear before the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court soon on a charge of assisting an inmate to escape from lawful custody and defeating the ends of justice. The two have been added to the six suspects, making it eight in total responsible for the escape of Bester including his lover Dr Nandipha Magudumana. Bester escaped from the Mangaung prison last May by faking his death in a fire. He was re-captured in Tanzania last month. Bester used the body of Katlego Mpholo as a decoy in his escape. Bester will be appearing in court on the 16th of May.