The Department of Correctional Services is closely monitoring prisons in the Western Cape after several serious incidents last year, describing the situation in the province as unstable.  

National Correctional Services Commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale made the remarks during a briefing on the Department of Correctional Services’ festive season operations on Monday.  

The concerns follow investigations into three incidents between August and October.  

“These investigations were conducted in terms of the Correctional Services Act, 111 of 1998, with the objectives of establishing facts, determining accountability, restoring public confidence and ensuring appropriate corrective and disciplinary action,” said Thobakgale.  

One investigation focused on the Oudtshoorn Medium A Correctional Centre, where four officials were stabbed, and an inmate named Simphiwe Celise died in August 2025, during a contraband search operation. 

“The investigation also found that this situation could have been mitigated… There was inadequate risk assessment, insufficient coordination of operational responses, and a lack of decisive leadership to stabilise the unit once the initial search had concluded.” 

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Thobakgale said disciplinary action will be taken against implicated officials, managers and medical personnel. 

Another investigation related to an administrative error that saw the release of inmate Thembalethu Inganathi Daba from Pollsmoor Correctional Facility in September. He was re-arrested 12 days later the release. 

“The investigation identified failures in inmate supervision, advance availability of court lists and management oversight, including the functionality of biometric systems. Criminal and disciplinary processes are underway, alongside corrective measures to prevent recurrence,” Thobakgale said.  

The third investigation related to another incident at Pollsmoor, this time in October, when two correctional officials came under attack and were stabbed by detainees. Thobakgale said the investigation established that three detainees had died following that incident due to the officials’ reaction.  

“[The probe] found that some of the officials, who responded to the incident, applied force outside the prescripts. The investigation also identified significant shortcomings in risk assessment processes, gang management protocols and the supervision of inmates.” 

Disciplinary action will also be taken against officials implicated in this matter.  

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Thobakgale said these incidents prove that correctional facilities in the Western Cape require “sustained intervention” for stabilisation.  

As such, he has recommended that disciplinary and criminal matters be dealt with “independent and external to the Western Cape region”.  

“The nature of these incidents, combined with the province’s high levels of crime, gangsterism, and the alleged orchestration of criminal activity within our correctional centres, necessitates the implementation of extraordinary measures.”