News24 | Mangaung inmate's death ruled a murder: DCS's probe uncovers alleged assault

The Department of Correctional Services said the death of an inmate at the Mangaung Correctional Centre last month, was not a natural death. (Gallo Images/Volksblad/Mlungisi Louw)

• The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) revealed that Mpho Mkhumbeni's death at Mangaung Correctional Centre on March 12 was a murder.
• A post-mortem found that his death was caused by complications from pepper spray exposure and blunt force trauma after being assaulted allegedly by prison officials.
• A search operation conducted by G4S personnel, allegedly without the required oversight, led to allegations of assault and torture.

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) said the death of an inmate at the Mangaung Correctional Centre last month, was not a natural death, but rather a murder caused by complications from pepper spray exposure and blunt force trauma.

Mpho Mkhumbeni, 39, died at the G4S facility on 12 March after being rushed to an in-house hospital.

Mkhumbeni was serving a life sentence for a murder conviction handed down on 4 November 2014. He was admitted to the correctional centre on 28 November that same year.

Initial reports from the prison stated that Mkhumbeni collapsed and died at the facility.

READ | Convicted murderer dies after throwing himself from building at Mangaung prison

However, the inquest was changed to a murder case after the department's investigation revealed he was allegedly assaulted by G4S personnel, known as the Dedicated Search Team (DST), after a search.

Correctional Services Commissioner Makgothi Samuel Thobakgale on Wednesday briefed members of the media on the findings of their investigation, revealing conflicting accounts of the events and prompting the department to probe further into the matter.

Detailing the events of the day, Thobakgale said on 11 March, G4S conducted a search operation without informing the temporary manager, an appointee of the DCS, who is required to be present for such operations as well as the prison controller.

During the search, Cell 6 in Wolds Unit, Street 1 — a cell housing Mkhumbeni and other inmates — was raided along with other cells.

"Later that evening, DST officials returned to the same cell after one of them reportedly lost a backpack containing R800. Upon their return, the four inmates in the cell were interrogated, allegedly assaulted, and tortured over the missing money," he said.

"These claims were initially denied by the DST officials and the contractor."

He said sanctioned post-mortem examinations concluded that Mkhumbeni's death was unnatural, resulting from complications due to pepper spray exposure and blunt force trauma.

"Following this conclusion, an inquest case initially opened by the South African Police Service on March 12, 2025, was later converted into a murder case," Thobakgale added. 

Senior managers, who were accountable for oversight during the search, failed to intervene or report the assault.

Thobakgale explained that their claims of not witnessing the incident lacked credibility.

"What is even more concerning is that G4S and its employees sought to conceal the truth and obstruct the investigation. This is taken very seriously, as it amounts to defeating the ends of justice," Thobakgale said.

While G4S had begun suspending officials involved, senior managers tasked with operational oversight continued to remain active in their roles.

This prompted the prison controller to withdraw the operational certificate of the director of operations.

Others suspended include the manager of operations, a security supervisor, and five DST officials. 

Thobakgale said this incident underscored ongoing concerns regarding the management of Mangaung Correctional Centre.

He pointed to ongoing litigation stemming from the Department's decision to terminate its 22-year contract with Bloemfontein Correctional Contracts (BCC), which contracted G4S to run Mangaung Correctional Centre's daily operations.

The termination followed the high-profile case of "Facebook Rapist" Thabo Bester, whose escape from the prison in May 2022 was exposed in 2023, after faking his own death with alleged assistance from prison officials.

"…this latest development lends weight to the department's position in taking over the facility," Thobakgale stated.

In the meantime, he said the temporary manager continues to monitor contractor operations, identifying and addressing areas that require immediate attention. 

Comment from G4S will be added once received.