In a bold move to stamp out illicit activities within the correctional system, a team of over 200 officers from the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) and specialized police units conducted a surprise raid at the Westville Correctional Centre’s Medium B section in Durban on Thursday night.
The operation, hailed as a success by National Commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale, yielded a significant haul of contraband items, including cellphones, drugs, routers, money, television sets, and radios. Addressing the media during the raid, Thobakgale emphasized the department’s commitment to rooting out corruption and maintaining discipline within the facilities.
Thobakgale explained that some items, such as TVs, may be permitted in cells with the necessary paperwork, but in this case, the confiscated TV lacked the required documentation. He added that investigations would commence on Friday to determine how the contraband items entered the facility.
The commissioner noted that repeat offenders found with contraband would have the items added to their profiles, potentially impacting their parole eligibility. This raid follows similar operations at the Johannesburg Correctional Centre, where a PlayStation and other items were seized, and the Goodwood Correctional Facility in Cape Town, which was raided last month.
Thobakgale emphasized that these raids would continue to take place at intervals, sending a strong message to inmates and correctional staff that the department would not tolerate illicit activities. By taking proactive measures, the DCS aims to maintain order and discipline within the correctional system.
