Zuko Komisa

The death of an inmate at the Mangaung Correctional Centre in the Free State has been confirmed by the Department of Correctional Services (DCS).
“The Department of Correctional Services confirms with regret the death of an inmate, who was found to have taken his own life by hanging. This unfortunate incident occurred at Mangaung Correctional Centre on 15 December 2024.
“At this time, personal details of the deceased cannot be disclosed as the family is being notified. We appeal for patience and understanding as we ensure that proper procedures are followed with due respect for the family’s privacy,” the department said.
A probe into the death is underway.“The Office of the National Commissioner has directed that a thorough investigation be undertaken to determine the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident,” said the Department of Correctional Services (DCS)
Mangaung Correctional Centre has recently been in the spotlight. The escape of Thabo Bester: Thabo Bester, a convicted murderer and rapist, broke out of Mangaung jail in May 2022 by paying guards and staging his death. The jail and its administration came under further scrutiny as a result of this tragedy.
Additional security events: Nearly 5,000 security incidents at Mangaung Prison were reported to the Department of Correctional Services by G4S between 2017 and April 2023. These instances included gang battles, injuries, beatings of convicts, attacks on officials, natural and unnatural fatalities, suicide attempts, and hunger strikes.
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