EC Prison Boss’s Operational Trips Stir Financial and Management Controversy

In a move that has sparked widespread scrutiny within the South African Correctional Services Department, the recent operational trip conducted by Lucky Mthethwa, the acting commissioner of Eastern Cape prisons, appears to have triggered financial and management concerns. The trip to Mangaung Prison, which involved Mthethwa and 40 managers from the province's correctional facilities, reportedly cost the department a staggering R100,000 in travel claims—in a single month.

This trip, aimed to extract best practices and learn from the oversight culminating in Thabo Bester's infamous escape, comes under the spotlight not only for its financial weight but also for its perceived inefficacy. Questions arise within the department regarding what actionable insights were gleaned from the prison rendezvous and why these insights weren't shared with the officials in charge of administering actionable changes in the Eastern Cape correctional facilities.

Mthethwa is no stranger to controversy, evidenced by his substantial hotel bills which have purportedly added R1.4 million to the department's tab. Allegations have emerged that, since ascending to his acting role in May 2021, travel claims have inflated tenfold—fueling suspicion and discontent among department officials.

The call for investigation grew louder with a group of senior correctional services officials supported by the Police, Prisons and Civil Rights Union (Popcru), who prompted the ANC leadership in the Eastern Cape for a meeting to address what is seen as a wasteful dispersal of taxpayer money.

Additional allegations bring into focus the day-to-day operations managed by Mthethwa. A particular instance involved Mthethwa and another official traveling to Goedemoed Maximum Prison for a routine prison transfer—a task traditionally accomplished telephonically—raising further eyebrows over the necessity of such excursions.

With Mthethwa also claimed to be making between R30,000 and R40,000 monthly from travel claims alone, the cumulative financial implications are sizable. The officials are pressing for a thorough review of claims made by Mthethwa, demanding transparency and accountability.

The national department, on the other hand, has defended the trip to Mangaung, asserting the importance of learning from other correctional centers. Spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo explained that knowledge sharing and collaboration are not merely favourable but encouraged within the correctional services landscape.

In addition to the department’s backing, the argument for operational expenses includes the settlement fees that will be owed to Mthethwa upon the conclusion of his acting tenure—a policy inherent to the department's structure regarding temporary transfers.

The scrutinized financial practices highlight the need for effective management and the responsible use of public funds within the Correctional Services Department. As the clash between financial accountability and operational necessity continues, the outcome of the requested meeting with ANC leadership and subsequent verifications could pivot departmental operations towards greater transparency and efficiency.