Category: Africa,Justice/Legal issues,South Africa,MBC

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English – Report:

Headline: Justice and Correctional Services Committee Expects Answers on Numerous Prison Escapes

Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services has expressed concern at the recent spate of escapes from correctional facilities and will take this critical matter up with the minister and the department when they appear before the committee next week.

Committee Chairperson, Dr Mathole Motshekga, expressed the committee’s concern as in some instances offenders serving long sentences for serious crimes have escaped. “This puts the lives of our law abiding South Africans citizens at risk. It cannot be allowed to continue. Urgent intervention is required for the spate of escapes.

“We need the minister and the two deputy ministers to appear before the committee in public in order to give a full account as to what they have been doing to address the tide of break-outs. This has been continuing for some time and poses a great risk to the general public. It is unacceptable. The committee will also enquire about the extent to which the department have implemented policy guidelines that are clear as to what needs to be done.”

Dr Motshekga said the Department of Correctional Services will appear on Thursday to brief the committee on its annual performance plan and budget for 2018/19. “We expect all accounting officers – including the executive authority – to inform the committee of plans on the way forward to prevent escapes. We will also enquire about investigations into what led to the escapes,” said Dr Motshekga.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English – Report:

Headline: South Africa – Media Statement: Meeting Cancelled After Summons Issued

On 13 March 2018, the Portfolio Committee of Public Enterprises resolved to summons Ms Dudu Myeni, Mr Ajay Gupta, Mr Atul Gupta, Mr Rajesh Gupta and Mr Duduzane Zuma to appear before the committee’s oversight inquiry into the mismanagement of state funds in state-owned enterprises.

The committee summonsed the above persons to address allegations made against them by various witnesses who had testified before the inquiry.

The summons were duly issued by the Secretary to Parliament in terms of the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act, 2004.

On 4 April 2018, the Sheriff attempted to serve the summonses on Mr Ajay Gupta, Mr Atul Gupta, Mr Rajesh Gupta and Mr Duduzane Zuma at their respective last-known places of residence. With regard to the Guptas, the Sheriff could not serve the summonses at their residence.

Chairperson of the Inquiry, Ms Zukiswa Rantho said, “the committee will engage with other law enforcement agencies such as the Hawks to assist in locating the witnesses so that the summonses can be issued by the Sheriff.”

On 4 April 2018, the Sheriff served the summons on Ms Dudu Myeni at her last known place of residence by affixing the summons to her outer main gate. This was done after the security guard at the residence refused to take receipt of the summons.

In light of the witnesses apparently not being present at their places of residence, Ms Rantho decided not to proceed with its scheduled meeting on 11 April.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.