South Africa’s prison system is once again under fire. During a major overnight raid at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre in Pretoria, officials discovered that Vusumuzi “Cat” Matlala, a man long accused of manipulating police structures from behind bars, was found with a mobile phone.
This raid, led by Correctional Services national commissioner Makgothi Samuel Thobakgale, stretched from Tuesday night into the early hours of Wednesday. It followed an earlier Sunday operation where Matlala was also caught with a phone. The repeat offence raised fresh concerns about how deeply criminal operations have embedded themselves inside prison walls.
Mike Bolhuis: “Crime Never Stops in Jail”
Well-known private investigator Mike Bolhuis reacted quickly to the news. Speaking on Newzroom Afrika, he said he was not shocked at all. He explained that many of South Africa’s most feared gangs are not just operating from the streets—they are being controlled from inside prisons.
“They do not stop,” Bolhuis said. “They just operate from smaller spaces.”
He warned that Matlala could soon gain control over the entire prison, calling the system “rotten to the core.” He also pointed out that while the new Correctional Services Minister is trying to fix things, the damage has already gone too far.
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Massive Contraband Discovery During Raid
Thobakgale confirmed that his team searched nearly 800 inmates during this raid. The results were alarming.
Over 105 cellphones were recovered.
Most of these were found in the “local” prison section, where more than 2,000 inmates share communal cells. Surprisingly, C-Max, which houses high-risk prisoners, had no contraband during this round of searches.
But phones were not the only items uncovered. The search team also found:
- Sharp weapons
- Drugs like crystal meth, dagga, and mandrax
How Do Inmates Get These Items?
One major problem, according to Thobakgale, is how easily contraband enters the prisons. Some prisoners hide phones and drugs in their bodies after returning from court. Others receive help from family members during visits.
Even worse, some corrupt prison staff have been caught sneaking items into the facility.
South Africa has over 200 prisons, but only 17 body scanners nationwide. This makes thorough checks nearly impossible.
What This Means for South Africa
The fact that such a high-profile inmate like Matlala can stay connected from inside prison highlights a growing issue. Gangs continue to thrive behind bars, and some prisons are turning into command centers for crime.
The repeated findings of phones, drugs, and weapons show that South Africa’s correctional system is facing serious problems. While the department has promised change, it is clear that much more work needs to be done.
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Hi, I’m Amandeep Singh, a content writer at Ramnath Intercollage. I share updates on jobs, internships, and scholarships across South Africa using official and trusted sources. My aim is to make every post easy to read and helpful for anyone looking to apply.
