An unannounced raid at the Odi Correctional Centre has led to the discovery of a myriad of contraband material, including cellphones, drugs and WiFi routers.

This is according to Correctional Services National Commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale who spoke to the media following the late-night raid.

“We are here to restore order. We are here to restore the security protocols that are supposed to prevail here. So far, we have found 30 cellphones, cellphone accessories [and] three routers.

“We found…slopes that are loaded with nyaope, mandrax tablets, crystal meth, dagga and we found offenders that are…buying from the kiosk and reselling to offenders.

“Others actually barter their items for food. It’s a problem for us because…if an offender doesn’t have enough food because they are exchanging their food for substances, it disturbs their ability to attend rehabilitation programs,” he said.

The Commissioner explained that the correctional centre was targeted following a tipoff.

“The second reason is that it is a small centre that is in a township and most instances, those centres are hubs of [the] selling of illegal substances.

“The third reason is that we also wanted to identify offenders that, given their classification, we might have to change their classification from low and medium to high risk given the contraband that we found in their possession,” Thobakgale added.
At least two offenders have been identified for relocation in this regard.

“There are officials that are [also] going through disciplinary processes. Even here, there are two officials that have been suspended. That is the work that management has been doing but we have identified that we need to come in and strengthen their hand in dealing with contraband and in ensuring that the centre is free from illegal substances and objects,” Thobakgale explained.

A reply to a Parliamentary question in December 2024 about smuggling shed light on what was being found in prison cells across the country. Over the previous 12 months when the reply was published, the Department of Correctional Services revealed that 411 smoking pipes, four official uniforms and six tattoo machines had been confiscated.

In addition, 41 853 cell phones were confiscated, 900 kg of drugs were seized, 11 894 weapons were taken off prisoners, and R201 765 in cash was recovered. Lighters, mirrors, memory cards, electrical wires, and cell phone accessories were also taken from prisoners over the 12-month period, along with 267 litres of alcohol.