There appears to be a war of words between the Minister of Correctional Services Pieter Groenewald and Western Cape Social Development MEC Jaco Londt following the disappearance of three juveniles from the judicial system.

The three young offenders who have been convicted of murder, rape and robbery disappeared from the prison system, while they were in the process of being transferred to the Pollsmoor Correctional Centre.

Two of them have since been caught while one remains missing. However, Groenewald has made it clear that the Western Cape Government, and more specifically that Social Development MEC Jaco Londt should take accountability for what transpired, but the province denies all involvement.

“It is unfortunate that the national Minister is trying to take the heat off of his department by making unfounded accusations. Our department had nothing to do with the alleged “disappearances” of the offenders. There was clearly a lapse somewhere between DCS and the magistrate’s court. Instead of pointing fingers at the wrong people, Minister Groenewald should instead be focused on finding the problem and resolving it to avoid a situation where dangerous individuals are able to roam the street,” Londt said.