Security company which privately operated the Mangaung prison where Thabo Bester escaped almost a year ago failed to appear before the parliamentary portfolio of justice, which included Minister of Justice Ronald Lamola, police commissioner Fannie Masemola and a few other MPs. G4S were subpoenaed to lead the first presentation into the escape of convicted rapist Bester. The briefing had to be postponed after the multinational company sent its lawyers to attend on its behalf. The company cited confidential obligations as reason for its absence and asked to be summoned after the Easter weekend.  

BOUND BY CONFIDENTIALITY  

In a letter to the committee, G4S said it was bound by statutory confidentiality obligations and contractual confidentiality obligations. "In order to enable G4S SA to fully and properly engage with the portfolio committee, it would need to be afforded the same protections which ordinarily would apply to those attending parliamentary committees, such as those stipulated under section 16 of the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislature Act 2004. In terms of Section 14 of the Privileges and Immunities Act, G4S SA therefore respectfully requests that the committee summons G4S, in particular the author of this letter, and Messrs Joseph Monyante and Gert Beyleveld, to attend a portfolio committee after the Easter recess in order to allow G4S sufficient time to prepare," the statement read.  

COMMITTEE MEMBERS OUTRAGED 

Committee member and DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach said she was upset and outraged that the matter will still drag almost a year after Bester's escape. She said it would have been pointless to proceed without G4S because they are the ones who should answer for Bester's disappearance. "G4S had the responsibility to the inmates and to the victims of Bester's crimes, which include rape. They thumbed their nose at a committee demanding to be summonsed here in order to retain protection. For what? If they had nothing to hide, they would be here. I'm so outraged I have trouble containing it.It took an independent publication to bring Bester's escape to the attention of the public.  Chairperson of the committee, Gratitude Magwanishe ,said that Speaker of Parliament  Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula  will summon G4S through the Secretary of Parliament, to address the committee meeting soon.