22 Feb 2017

The Minister of Defence, Justice and Security has informed prison warders in Selibe Phikwe that it does not mean that the closure of the BCL mine would result in the relocation or closure of the prison.

Addressing warders on Friday during a tour to of the facility, Mr Shaw Kgathi said the closure of the mine should be a challenge to them, to come up with solutions on how the Bobirwa greater area could be saved.

He said government did not wish to see the people of Selebi Phikwe suffering and as such was committed to rescuing the situation by looking for investors to help the town.  

Mr Kgathi also Member of Parliament for Bobonong said government also provided incentives for companies wanting to set up in the town.

Relating to the warders professional work, Mr Kgathi said there was no justification for inmates to escape from prison saying it showed laxity and negligence.

The minister said Francistown escapees, escaped during the day when there was adequate manpower on the ground adding that the commissioner must take action upon completion of the investigations.

He said prisons and rehabilitation was an important institution in the justice delivery system and as such those that were convicted must serve their sentences.

Mr Kgathi stated there were suspicions of prison officers who passed drugs and contrabands, knives, and cell phones to prisoners, who in turn use those to escape from jail saying that compromised security.

The minister informed prison officers that they held an important position in the justice delivery system where both convicted and remanded prisoners and the public must have faith in them.

Over 80 per cent of convicts at Selebi Phikwe prison were Batswana while 10-15 per cent foreigners and remaining were remanded prisoners, Mr Kgathi said.

He said most convicts at the facility were convicted for stock theft which he said was a concern in the area and urged the community to be involved in solving the problem.

Concerning the welfare and the conditions of service of the warders he said he was working with commissioner, Colonel Silas Setlalekgosi on the organisational structure with the hope of addressing a lot of outstanding issues.

The minister also advised them to utilise government programmes to improve their lives.

For his part commissioner Setlalekgosi said Selebi Phikwe prison had  89 officers and 318 prisoners both convicted and remanded.

He said though the prison had challenges, it was doing its best to achieve its mandate.

Officers promised the commissioner and the minister that despite challenges relating to their welfare they would continue to work hard and had a target of zero escapees from the facility.

They said escapees in some prisons were due to poor patrol citing officers who spent time on social media like facebook. BOPA