# The Department of Correctional Services has officially assumed full operational responsibility for the Mangaung Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein in the Free State. It made headlines following the escape of rape and murder convict Thabo Bester in May 2022. It has been renamed the Grootvlei Maximum Correctional Centre, covering the Free State and the Northern Cape. Spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo says the takeover process has been underway for the past two years:
Department of Correctional Services has officially taken over the management of the Mangaung Correctional Centre [SOUND]
ENG NxumaloONAssumes