Duane Petrus – A task team has been appointed to come up with a contingency plan by Friday regarding what intervention is needed at the Mangaung Correctional Centre. G4S lost control over their contract to manage the prison today after many security concerns were noted following a visit by the acting national commissioner, Nontsikilelo Jolingana. G4S has never met the minimum required staff per shift since the dismissal of 331 warders for their involvement in an illegal strike last month. The Department of Correctional Services says the company did not respond to most of the 30 notices of penalties for breach of contract served on them. Most of these notices were for the utilisation of uncertified staff to carry out custodial duties.
"We are fully aware that the situation at the centre is tense and volatile, and we are under no illusion that returning the centre to normality will be an easy task," Jolingana said.
Jolingana says it is too premature to say if the company will completely lose the contract as well or when issues raised by the task team will be resolved.
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