The National Commissioner of Correctional Services, Makgothi Thobakgale, has announced that the Kutama Sinthumule Correctional Centre in Louis Trichardt will be fully operational by the end of this month.
Thobakgale visited the facility today to check on the progress made after a devastating fire on August 7, 2023. The fire resulted in the death of one inmate and forced the relocation of other inmates to different correctional centres.
The fire, which affected all three sections of the prison, started during a riot by inmates.
Thobakgale reported that work on the yellow and blue sections is complete, and 1,872 offenders have been moved back to these sections. Repairs on the green section, which houses 1,152 inmates, are expected to be finished by the end of this month.
Additionally, Thobakgale mentioned that a report on the investigation into the cause of the fire will be released at the end of the month.
