The head of South Africa’s Department of Correctional Services, Thobakgale, testifies at the Madlanga Commission that an inmate’s account includes assistance from prison guards in an escape attempt.
Thobakgale says the inmate, Madiba, told him and the department’s head of security that officers allegedly involved in his initial 2022 escape approached him and warned him to leave. The testimony is presented as part of the commission’s inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the 2022 escape.
Across the available reports, the emphasis is on Thobakgale’s claim that guards played an enabling role by warning the inmate, rather than merely failing to stop an escape. The coverage reflects that the statement is delivered in a formal commission setting, with details attributed to what the inmate told senior officials. No additional confirmed facts beyond the testimony are included in the provided excerpts.
