# The High Court in Pretoria has ruled that the Department of Correctional Services acted unlawfully when it took control over the Mangaung Correctional Centre following the escape of convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester. The prison was run by G4S under the Bloemfontein Correctional Contracts when Bester escaped in 2022. The court found there was no ongoing security threat to justify the intervention nearly ten-months after the escape. Judge Dale Matthew Hinrichsen ordered the department to repay at least 1.72-million-rand to BCC and cover legal costs.
Prison takeover after Bester escape ruled unlawful, department to pay R1.72 million to contractor