PHUTI MOSOMANE
MEMBERS of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services has expressed its outrage at G4S for not agreeing to attend the scheduled meeting on the Thabo Bester escape.
The committee members expressed annoyance upon receiving a letter from G4S requesting to attend the meeting as a summoned party.
ACDP MP Steve Swart said: “What are they hiding?”
Committee members said it is regrettable that G4S was not present at the meeting and said that the meeting could not continue due to their absence.
The committee was of the view that G4S should be the first to make a presentation on the issues relating to the Bester escape.
Committee Chairperson Bulelani Magwanishe said it is clear is that the committee will have to summon the privately-owned correctional facilities company.
Everybody was invited to the meeting through the Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services.
Accountability to Parliament is not optional, something that G4S must be aware of, the Chairperson said: “I thought we will have an open discussion of what happened; all stakeholders are here except G4S,” said Magwanishe.
“We will request the Speaker of National Assembly through the Secretary of Parliament to process and issue the summons. South Africans are waiting for an explanation. When people have to account they look for technical loopholes and legal routes. Instead of coming with information, G4S looking for loopholes,” added Magwanishe.
The Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Ronald Lamola, expressed the same sentiments, saying he was disappointed the committee could not proceed.
Magwanishe said G4S will be summoned on a date to be agreed upon with the Speaker of the National Assembly and the committee.
G4S manages the Mangaung maximum prison where the Facebook rapist escaped.
The company has since refused to take responsibility.
Last week, Correctional Services acting commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale confirmed that Bester was assisted to escape the prison.
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