She faces charges of fraud, corruption, violating a corpse, defeating the ends of justice, and aiding and abetting a prisoner escape from prison.

 

As a result of the controversial escape from Mangaung prison, the department of correctional services terminated its contract with Bloemfontein Correctional Services (BCC), which is part-owned by G4S.

 

“The Department of Justice and Correctional Services (DJCS) says it has the capacity to take over the running of the Mangaung prison. This decision puts the jobs of G4S employees at risk for possible retrenchments.

 

“The details of the Bester-escape made a mockery of the DJCS and South Africa’s criminal justice system. It is unacceptable to society that Bester, who is serving life imprisonment, can escape with the help of staff of Mangaung-prison. It is equally unfair that the jobs of all employees are at stake, when only a few was involved.

 

“At the same time the DJCS’s own hands aren’t clean. The Department still has not explained why Alison Botha's attackers, convicted rapists Frans du Toit and Theuns Kruger, were released on parole in July 2023 without the Department notifying her and without the Parole Board giving her the opportunity to voice her objections. The DJCS must also take responsibility for its actions just as it expects BCC to own up.” says Keyter.

 

MISA is at the forefront of the fight against gender-based violence and sexual harassment in the male dominated retail motor industry. The Union started an e-mail address last year, endGBV@ms.org.za, where victims can report incidents confidentially even if they don’t belong to the Union.

 

In August Police Minister Bheki Cele informed Parliament that 6 228 victims were murdered between April and June this year, of which 1 188 were women and children, with 10 512 rape victims reported in the first three months of this year.

 

“South Africa is unable to combat the pandemic of violence against women and children. In the case of Dr Magudumana, she chose to expose her two minor children to Bester and then dumped them on their father when deciding to flee the country. That is not the actions of a concerned mother,” says Keyter.

 

Should the DJCS and BCC’s mediation process on the way forward be unsuccessful, the BCC’s urgent application against the decision to terminate the contract will be heard in the Pretoria High Court on 19 September.

 

Issued on behalf of MISA by Sonja Carstens, MISA’s Media, Liaison and Communication Specialist.

 

For MISA Press Releases, phone Carstens on 082 463 6806 or email media@ms.org.za