The Mangaung Correctional Centre (MCC) in Bloemfontein and the Kutama-Sinthumule Correctional Centre (KSCC) in Limpopo are nearing the end of their 25-year management contracts with private companies.
As part of the Department of Correctional Services’ (DCS) plans to take over these facilities, a dedicated Task Team has been working on the transition process, beginning with MCC, which faces complications due to non-compliance issues and ongoing legal challenges. Despite these setbacks, DCS is focused on ensuring a smooth transfer of management once the legal matters are resolved or the contracts expire, the Department of Correctional Services told Parliament in a presentation on 26 November.
MCC began operations on 1 July 2001, under a 25-year contract with Bloemfontein Correctional Contracts (BCC), managed by G4S Security. The contract is set to end on 30 June 2026, with the Centre having an approved accommodation capacity of 2928 inmates. Similarly, KSCC in Makhado, Limpopo Province, has been operational since 16 February 2002, under a 25-year management contract by South African Custodial Management (SACM), set to conclude on 15 February 2027, and has a capacity of 3024 inmates.
In November 2021, the National Commissioner of the DCS appointed a Takeover Task Team, led by regional commissioners from Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North-West, and Free State & Northern Cape regions, to oversee the planned takeover of both MCC and KSCC once their private contracts expire. The team was tasked with preparing for the transition of these correctional centres into DCS management, beginning with MCC due to its contract ending a year earlier than KSCC.
However, during preparations for the takeover, numerous non-compliance issues at MCC were identified, prompting the DCS to invoke Section 112 of the Correctional Services Act on 28 March 2023. As a result, the Department decided to issue BCC a 90-day notice of termination for their concession contract, effective from 02 May 2023, through 31 July 2023. The department then focused on ensuring readiness to take over the MCC facility, with the National Commissioner appointing a temporary manager and an acting controller to oversee the daily operations of MCC during this transition period.
The Task Team and Work Stream Champions conducted multiple site visits to assess the facility’s operations and develop action plans for the takeover. These efforts were meant to ensure a smooth transition to departmental management and address the operational challenges MCC faced. However, following the termination notice, BCC sought an urgent court interdict to challenge the Department’s decision, which caused delays in the planned takeover process. The legal proceedings are still ongoing and remain unresolved.
The Department has emphasized that the takeover of MCC and KSCC will continue once the legal issues are finalized or at the end of the existing contracts, whichever comes first. The ongoing legal challenge by BCC has impacted the timing of the transition, but DCS remains committed to assuming control of both facilities in due course.
The Department notes it is ready to take over operations of MCC, but this will only commence once necessary legal processes have been finalised. Furthermore, the takeover of KSCC will only be finalised after the takeover of MCC is concluded.
