Latest news with #Thobakgale
The South African
6 days ago
- The South African
Surprise Pollsmoor Prison raid leads to shocking discovery
A surprise raid at Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town has exposed alarming levels of contraband, including cellphones, drugs, and evidence of gang communication, raising fresh concerns about corruption and security lapses within South Africa's prison system. The operation, led by Correctional Services Commissioner Makgothi Samuel Thobakgale, took place on Wednesday evening and is part of a nationwide crackdown aimed at curbing gang influence behind bars. 'Just over 450 inmates were transported between courts and this prison on Wednesday alone,' Thobakgale said, citing inmate transfers as a major security risk. Among the most shocking discoveries was a hollowed-out brick used by an inmate to hide six cellphones. The inmate has since been relocated. Investigators also found a phone containing WhatsApp messages linking a prisoner to a gang member outside the facility. Authorities are withholding further information as the investigation continues. 53 cellphones 210 bags of marijuana Mandrax pills Unauthorised chargers An illegal television The sweep also revealed unsanitary conditions, malfunctioning lights, broken taps, and illegal electrical connections in various parts of the facility. Pollsmoor, built to accommodate 4 336 inmates, is currently overcrowded with 6 700 prisoners, according to Correctional Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo. The high volume of inmates, paired with staffing challenges and crumbling infrastructure, presents serious hurdles to maintaining order. Commissioner Thobakgale admitted that corrupt prison officials are a key factor in the smuggling of prohibited items, stating: 'We are aware that contraband enters through various means, including being smuggled inside body cavities, wrapped in plastic. We need stricter enforcement and greater accountability among staff.' This operation follows a violent incident last month, where a warder was stabbed by an inmate, triggering a partial lockdown of the prison. Similar raids have recently been conducted at Odi Correctional Centre and Kgosi Mampuru Prison as part of a broader effort to dismantle gang networks within correctional facilities. Thobakgale emphasised the importance of cutting off inmate communication with the outside world to undermine gang structures. He said this is critical to restoring control in prisons that have become breeding grounds for organised crime. Location: Pollsmoor Prison, Cape Town Pollsmoor Prison, Cape Town Inmates vs Capacity: 6 700 vs 4 336 6 700 vs 4 336 Contraband Seized: Phones, drugs, weapons, TV Phones, drugs, weapons, TV Investigation: Ongoing; gang communication discovered Ongoing; gang communication discovered National Context: Similar raids underway across SA prisons Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Eyewitness News
09-07-2025
- Eyewitness News
Thobakgale reassures public Bester securely locked up in SA's most heavily guarded prison
JOHANNESBURG - Correctional Services National Commissioner Samuel Thobakgale has reassured the public that convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester is securely locked up in the country's most heavily guarded prison. Thobakgale was speaking at Kgosi Mampuru C-Max during a raid at the facility overnight, saying Bester cooperated with the search without complaining about his treatment or conditions. ALSO READ: Surprise raid at Kgosi Mampuru prison exposes alleged graft by prison wardens Bester is serving a life sentence plus 75 years for rape, murder and fraud. He's currently being held at Kgosi Mampuru while facing charges relating to his escape from Mangaung Prison in 2022 and a series of alleged fraud and violations. Thobakgale said Bester is under constant surveillance at the same high-security facility that houses convicted gangsters and killers like Radovan Krejčíř and tender king Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala. Thobakgale said Bester, like other inmates, adhered to instructions during the raid at the facility. The commissioner said the public can rest assured that the man dubbed the Facebook rapist is going nowhere. "I was saying to him: You know where you are; you're going to abide by the rules, you continue to do that, where we won't have a problem, and you just go through the motions." For now, Bester remains under heavy guard in a cell equipped with 24-hour monitoring as officials tighten security to prevent another escape.
IOL News
09-07-2025
- IOL News
Vusimuzi ‘Cat' Matlala found with mobile phone at Kgosi Mampuru prison
Businessman and murder-accused Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala during a recent court appearance at the Alexandra Magistrate's Court. He has been fingered as a central cog in the corruption claimed by KZN police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Image: Supplied The man widely accused of being at the heart of police infiltration and capture of law enforcement apparatus in South Africa, Vusumuzi 'Cat' Matlala was this week found with a mobile phone during a raid at the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Facility in Pretoria. On Tuesday night and into the early hours of Wednesday, Correctional Services national commissioner, Makgothi Samuel Thobakgale, led an extensive raid and search operation at the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre in Pretoria, including its high-security C-Max section. The raid on Tuesday and Wednesday was a follow-up to another blitz conducted on Sunday, where officials found Matlala with a mobile phone. 'Cat Matlala is at C-Max correction facility because of a classification. He is classified as high-risk but also secondly, we continue to do searches, especially these types of searches that we did last night," Thobakgale told broadcaster Newzroom Afrika on Wednesday morning. 'On Sunday morning, we did a surprise search and we found a cellphone in his possession.' At the time, Matlala was in a section of the vast prison called 'local' which houses medium to low-risk individuals. 'He was at medium local,' said Thobakgale. The Department of Correctional Services said investigations are underway to ascertain how Matlala managed to have the mobile device in the prison. The gadget has since been handed over to the South African Police Service (SAPS). 'When we find objects like cellphones in cases that are high-risk like this one, we hand the object over to the South African Police Service so that is what we have done immediately, on the same day,' said Thobakgale. 'After uncovering the device, we contacted SAPS and they came and collected it.' IOL has reported that it has since emerged that former police minister, Bheki Cele, is now implicated in the police corruption scandal involving Matlala.
IOL News
09-07-2025
- IOL News
Hello: Vusimuzi ‘Cat' Matlala was found with mobile phone at Kgosi Mampuru prison
Businessman and murder-accused Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala during a recent court appearance at the Alexandra Magistrate's Court. He has been fingered as a central cog in the corruption claimed by KZN police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Image: Supplied The man widely accused of being at the heart of police infiltration and capture of law enforcement apparatus in South Africa, Vusumuzi 'Cat' Matlala was this week found with a mobile phone during a raid at the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Facility in Pretoria. On Tuesday night and into the early hours of Wednesday, Correctional Services national commissioner, Makgothi Samuel Thobakgale, led an extensive raid and search operation at the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre in Pretoria, including its high-security C-Max section. The raid on Tuesday and Wednesday was a follow-up to another blitz conducted on Sunday, where officials found Matlala with a mobile phone. 'Cat Matlala is at C-Max correction facility because of a classification. He is classified as high-risk but also secondly, we continue to do searches, especially these types of searches that we did last night," Thobakgale told broadcaster Newzroom Afrika on Wednesday morning. 'On Sunday morning, we did a surprise search and we found a cellphone in his possession.' At the time, Matlala was in a section of the vast prison called 'local' which houses medium to low-risk individuals. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading 'He was at medium local,' said Thobakgale. The Department of Correctional Services said investigations are underway to ascertain how Matlala managed to have the mobile device in the prison. The gadget has since been handed over to the South African Police Service (SAPS). 'When we find objects like cellphones in cases that are high-risk like this one, we hand the object over to the South African Police Service so that is what we have done immediately, on the same day,' said Thobakgale. 'After uncovering the device, we contacted SAPS and they came and collected it.' IOL has reported that it has since emerged that former police minister, Bheki Cele, is now implicated in the police corruption scandal involving Matlala.
The South African
07-07-2025
- The South African
Inmates scam the public from prison: Phones seized in surprise raid
Acting on intelligence about a scam operation run by inmates, National Commissioner of Correctional Services Makgothi Samuel Thobakgale personally led a weekend raid at Baviaanspoort Correctional Centre. Also, the surprise raid uncovered several mobile phones and other contraband, with officials discovering 'sophisticated hideout spots' used to conceal the devices inside prison cells. 'What is most alarming is that these illicit activities were carried out in broad daylight, raising serious concerns about lapses in vigilance and continuous monitoring by officials,' the department stated. Following the raid, authorities transferred all implicated inmates to the maximum-security unit (C-Max) at Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre. A forensic analysis of the seized devices is also underway to assess the scam's full extent and aid further legal action. Furthermore, Thobakgale has demanded an urgent report from Baviaanspoort's management explaining how the scam could occur undetected. 'This glaring security breach has prompted the National Commissioner to demand a full report from the centre's management,' the department confirmed. The Department of Correctional Services has reaffirmed its zero-tolerance stance on contraband and internal criminal activity. Additionally, ongoing raids aim to dismantle illicit operations within prisons and stop illegal items from entering facilities. 'While removing illegal items is a key focus, equal attention is being given to preventing their entry in the first place. Any official found to be complicit in smuggling will face the full might of the law, with no leniency afforded,' the department warned. Thobakgale has instructed the Baviaanspoort Correctional Centre to develop and submit a detailed plan to address the operational failings that enabled the incident. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
