JOHANNESBURG - R45-million -- that’s the amount government pays G4S every month to run the Mangaung correctional facility where convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester escaped last year.
This was revealed by Justice Minister Ronald Lamola during the portfolio committee inquiry looking into the Bester escape saga.
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"The expenditure payment made to date since 2001 is R7.7-billion. The projection until the end of the contract is over R2-billion," Lamola said.
"We are paying an amount of R45-million a month for this facility. An assessment was done and that assessment found DCS got value for money in terms of infrastructure.
"However, the department is experiencing serious affordability constraints in meeting its obligation in relation to the two PPP prisons," he said.
"But we have a contract and we must honour it."