Crimes of the South African Police Service

Probe into claims of greedy warders

CORRECTIONAL Services has launched an investigation into senior warders at Kgosi Mampuru Prison after fresh bribery allegations. While officials are investigating how the so-called Waterkloof Two – Frikkie du Preez and Christoff Becker – could have access to cellphones and other luxuries in jail, an inmate has claimed that two officials apparently solicited bribes from inmates, offering them protection, information and a “lavish lifestyle”. The Star’s sister newspaper, the Pretoria News, has in its possession two bank deposit slips made out to two management officials of the Kgosi Mampuru jail, previously known as Pretoria Central Prison, from prisoners. The inmates – available at any time on a cellphone, although this is disallowed – said they were tired of corrupt officials extorting exorbitant amounts of money from them. Allegations of prison warders taking bribes are not new, but inmates say it has spiralled out of control. Correctional Services spokesman Manelisi Wolela confirmed that the two officials named by the inmates were in the prison’s management. A probe was under way to determine whether the bank details provided by the Pretoria News matched its records of the officials, “to assist in the verification of all facts, after which action will be taken”. Inmate Brian (not his real name) alleges he has paid well over R5 000 to warders since August. “They offer you protection, food, information on searches, anything you might need, for a small amount. But once you pay them, they start taking advantage and look for any excuse to get money,” Most payments were in cash, leaving no trail, he said. In October, Brian and another inmate, Warren (also not his real name), decided to expose those accepting bribes. Their families pay the bribes into the bank accounts of the two top officials. A total of R500 was paid into an Absa account after the warder told him of a search and offered to keep his cellphone and electronic tablet safe. “I gave him R400 through a middleman. After the search, he wanted more to get the stuff back, so I paid a further R500. He then asked for more to pay another person who had helped him,” Brian said. In November, R600 was paid into a Standard Bank account. Despite payment of more than R1 000, the items had not been returned. Wolela said: “We view the claims seriously. Management was unaware of complaints.” By Valenska Abreu The Star 24/02/14 Early Edition