Following the escape of convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester, the department’s litigation process against the private company is continuing. The department might have to prepare itself to take over the MCC.

Correctional services minister Dr Pieter Groenewald briefed the portfolio committee on correctional services on Tuesday (2/12) on its readiness to take over the prison when the contract ends.

In 2023, the DCS served the centre with a notice to terminate its contract following Bester’s escape. Due to ongoing legal challenges from MCC, the 90-day takeover notice was never executed.

“My view is to consider whether further taxpayers’ money must be spent on the litigation, or whether we should wait until the contract runs its course and comes to a natural end,” said Groenewald. “A final decision on whether we will continue with the contract, as far as MCC is concerned, is still to be taken.

“And as minister, I will have to make a final decision on that matter. It is not final yet, but we must prepare ourselves for a possible takeover if necessary.”

Three months before the takeover, the department plans to deploy between 50 and 100 staff members to the MCC. It also intends to integrate various branches to carry out specific tasks that will support the transition.

Once the DCS assumes control, 780 positions will need to be filled to ensure efficient management.

In 2023, the DA said the decision by then minister of correctional services Ronald Lamola to terminate the centre’s contract could cost millions.

The DA also alleged Lamola’s department was not sufficiently prepared to run the Mangaung centre.

The prison was cast in the spotlight when it was brought to light that convicted Facebook rapist Bester did not burn to death in his cell in May 2022, but had escaped. DNA proved it wasn’t Bester’s body that burned in the cell.

Ground Up reports Bester was named the Facebook rapist because he used the social media platform to lure his victims. He would create fake profiles, often promising job opportunities such as modeling scouts for international agencies, to deceive women into meeting him. 

Once he met them, he would rape and rob them, using a knife in some cases, and ultimately murdered one of them. Bester was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2012 for his crimes, which included two counts of rape, one count of murder, and robbery. 

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