Correctional Services criticises Tshwane over failed power cut at Kgosi Mampuru prison

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has sharply criticised the City of Tshwane following what it described as a reckless and humiliating attempt to disconnect electricity at the Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre based on incorrect billing information.

In a media statement issued on Friday, DCS said it was “once again perplexed” by the conduct of the City after officials attempted to cut power at the correctional facility, only to later acknowledge that the move was based on an incorrect account statement.

According to the Department, the situation was exacerbated by the Executive Mayor of Tshwane allegedly making public pronouncements on social media about the planned electricity disconnection before ensuring that the facts had been properly verified.

City officials reportedly arrived at the correctional centre armed with inaccurate billing information and were later forced to withdraw after Correctional Services managers pointed out the error.

“This incident clearly demonstrates a lack of due diligence and basic verification before drastic action is taken and published on social media,” the Department said, adding that the apparent eagerness to disconnect electricity at a critical national facility raised serious concerns about the City’s administrative processes.

No electricity disconnection ultimately took place, and the City was compelled to retract its actions after acknowledging its mistake. DCS said it now expects the Executive Mayor to show the same enthusiasm in publicly correcting the misinformation, admitting that the City’s facts were wrong, and offering a formal apology to the Department and the public.

The Department further expressed concern over what it described as a continued fixation on Correctional Services by the City of Tshwane, particularly on incorrect grounds. It said this created the impression of a deliberate attempt to discredit the Department and to single it out as a primary target.

“It has become increasingly apparent that the Department of Correctional Services is being singled out and treated as a primary target by the Mayor of Tshwane,” the statement read.

DCS emphasised that correctional facilities are critical state institutions responsible for public safety and national security, warning that they should not be subjected to reckless public statements or administrative missteps that undermine their credibility and operations