Parliament portfolio committee set to conduct oversight visit at Kgosi Mampuru prison

JOHANNESBURG - Parliament’s portfolio committee on Correctional Services is scheduled to conduct an oversight visit at the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre in Pretoria on Wednesday morning.

This after the Inspectorate for Correctional Services raised concerns over the state of prisons in the country.

The committee also wants to assess the treatment and service provided to inmates and the conditions of employment for wardens.

The committee said it also expects prison management to provide a general idea of challenges faced at the prison.

Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre is made up of six rehabilitation facilities, including the notorious maximum security division, commonly known as C Max and Women’s Prison.

This is where the founder of the Black Consciousnesses Movement, Steve Biko died in 1977, a day after his transfer to the prison.

Oscar Pistorius was also detained at the facility following the murder of his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Interestingly, President Cyril Ramaphosa was also detained at this prison and kept in solitary confinement for 11 months in 1974.