G4S grilled over prison staff lifestyle audits
Representatives of G4S, the security company that runs the jail from where Thabo Bester escaped, has come under fire for allegedly not conducting lifestyle audits on its prison staff.
The company is in the hot seat after being summoned to explain itself before Parliament's Justice and Correctional Services Portfolio Committee on Wednesday.
Bester, a convicted rapist and murderer sentenced to life imprisonment, escaped from the maximum security facility in Mangaung nearly a year ago.
Until recently, it was thought he had died in a fire in his cell.
READ: G4S tell MPs Bester applied for single cell before escape
Portfolio committee member Glynnis Breytenbach came down hard on the G4S about lifestyle audits.
"You employed people to look after a hardened criminal, we are not looking at shoplifters and you don't think it is necessary to do lifestyle audits on people who look after criminals like that - who have access to money, who are known for bribery and corruption. Are you saying your staff is above that?"
The company's Gert Beyleveld was not able to give a direct answer.
"I can not speculate on that. The people from our HR department has direct dealing with the employees are unfortunately not available. I will have to write it down and come back with answers."
