“no soft life in correctional centres”
The National Commissioner (NC) of the Department of Correctional Services, Mr Makgothi Thobakgale, led a surprise search in the early hours of Thursday morning, 18 July 2024, at Goodwood Correctional Centre in the Western Cape Region.
The search comes in the wake of a video of a Goodwood inmate that went viral on social media platforms, depicting a “soft life” behind bars. The National Commissioner said during a media interview onsite that although searches have taken place several times during the week preceding the video being made and going viral, more cellphones and other items continue to be found. “A search was done the Friday prior to the video going viral and therefore, we will launch an investigation to determine how the cell phone was not found,” he said.
The National Commissioner said that one of the risks faced in preventing contrabands from being smuggled into DCS facilities, is as a result of remand detainees who have a high movement in and out of correctional facilities to attend court. He also conceded that some of the contrabands come in through rogue officials during the change in shifts. Another notable trend was the increase in cell phones being brought in by family members during visits. “It’s an act of undermining our operating procedures and the disciplinary code in correctional facilities.”
The remand detainee in the circulating video, Bornface Banks, a Zimbabwean national, has since been moved to a maximum-security centre where he has been charged for his transgression.
Addressing the Goodwood staff during the morning parade, the NC said that the centre has essentially allowed the utilisation of contrabands in the centre. “There are those amongst us that allow inmates to bring contrabands in. You know who is utilising contrabands, and know the officials who are aiding the movement of contrabands, but you do not report them. We should not be spectators when we witness errant behaviour. The smuggling in of contrabands compromises safety in our centres and undermines our mandate as a department,” he cautioned.
In closing, he emphasized that DCS is the last line of defence in the criminal justice system and that officials must be fit for purpose. “Correctional facilities are supposed to be centres of correction, rehabilitation and social reintegration. Centres are not supposed to be turned into the initial environment where crime happens. We can’t be that environment at the tail end, whereas we are supposed to produce parolees and probationers ready for reintegration into our communities,” Concluded NC Thobakgale.