misconduct while one official resigned
1 August 2007
The Department of Correctional Services has summarily dismissed four
officials for serious misconduct while one more resigned after a South African
Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) Special Assignment team captured them on video
accepting bribes for engaging in corrupt activities.
The officials dismissed and shamed are Louisa Rabeng, Phillimon Mokhoma,
Freddie Maswanganyi, Shellboy Mahlangu and Malcom Parker of the Pretoria Local
Correctional Centre for awaiting trial detainees. These officials were captured
on a secret SABC video camera receiving drugs, alcohol and bribes from an 'SABC
undercover agent' outside of the Correctional Centre for sale to offenders
while also engaging in corrupt discussions and activities aimed at facilitating
an escape of one awaiting trial detainee at the Pretoria Local Correctional
Centre. The Special Assignment programme is expected to be flighted on Tuesday,
14 August 2007.
After the video was brought to the attention of the Department and the
officials were positively identified, the National Commissioner summarily
dismissed them and the matter was reported to the South African Police Service
for criminal investigations.
Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour says "the Department cannot
tolerate any form of fraud and corruption and will waste no time in decisively
dealing with fraudsters and corrupt officials." Minister Balfour said: "We
welcome any effort to expose fraud and corruption within Correctional Centres
but appropriate channels of the law enforcement agencies like South African
Police Services and the Scorpions should be used to create a legal base for
successful criminal investigations against fraudsters."
Minister Balfour called on the SABC Special Assignment team and all other
South Africans to report incidents of fraud and corruption to the Public
Service Commission, South African Police Service or the Scorpions in line with
the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (Act 12 of 2004). He
said although a lot more still has to be done, the Department's onslaught
against fraud and corruption continues to gain momentum and that "gives us a
clear sense that we will rid our department of the rotten potatoes that place
lives and the property of our people in danger."
Enquiries:
Manelisi Wolela
Deputy Commissioner of Communications
Tel: 012 305 8205/4
Cell: 083 626 0304
Issued by: Department of Correctional Services
1 August 2007
