13 Apr 2022

The Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security will refurbish the Serowe women’s prison under the National Development Plan (NDP 12).

That was said by Minister Kagiso Mmusi in response to a parliamentary question on Monday.

Mr Mmusi said the prison, which was closed in 2010, was not abandoned but was planned for refurbishment, adding that “unfortunately the refurbishment had not yet taken place due to budgetary constraints.”

However, he said staff houses adjacent to the prison were refurbished in 2016 and were currently occupied by prison officers. Again, he indicated that the new prison, just like other high security prisons was currently overcrowded but efforts were made where possible to transfer some prisoners to other nearby facilities in Mahalapye and Francistown.

“The prison was constructed in 1981 and was designed to accommodate 180 prisoners, but as at April 6 this year, the facility was carrying 252 inmates,” Minister Mmusi said. He added that other crowded prisons, included central prison, first offenders prison and Maun prison with central prison having 340 prisoners against a carrying capacity of 112.

He said the first offenders prison on the other hand was designed to carry 170 prisoners but currently had 310 while Maun prison had 252 against a carrying capacity of 180.

Mr Mmusi was answering a question asked by MP for Serowe South, Mr Leepetswe Lesedi who wanted to know when the Old Serowe Women Prison was closed and if the ministry was aware that the facility had been abandoned and dilapidated.

On the other hand, Mr Mmusi informed Parliament that Kaudwane Police Post was planned for construction during the financial year 2018-2019.

However, he said the tender for construction of the Police Post experienced prolonged award complaints and challenges, which delayed implementation.

Furthermore, he said after final award, the recommended bidder declined the offer citing price increases in the market.

He added that the project was re-tendered and had since been awarded on February 17 this year with the contract signing still ongoing. Also, he said the date for commissioning and site hand over would be set after contract signing.

He said that there were no plans to construct police offices at the village due to budgetary constraints. “Kaudwane village will continue to be serviced by police officers housed at the village kgotla assisted by Kang Police Station as and when additional support is required,” Minister Mmusi said. ENDS