Inkatha Freedom Party Statement By:

MRS SYBIL SEATON MP 
ACTING IFP CHIEF WHIP

6th August, 2007

The Inkatha Freedom Party is calling on the Minister of Correctional Services, Mr Ncqonde Balfour, to immediately launch a full investigation into the escape of the ten dangerous prisoners from the Qalakabusha Correctional Centre in Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal, over the weekend. 

Corruption is rife in prisons countrywide and therefore this escape, from such a secure prison, should be handled as an extremely serious issue. 

The Minister himself has said that he is convinced that the offenders were aided in some way, but he hasn't announced immediate steps to be put in place at the Qalakabusha Correctional Centre to prevent this from happening again. 

We are therefore calling on the Minister to act speedily and decisively so that he can prove that he is capable of acting on and eradicating corruption, which has become part and parcel of the Correctional Services Department.


FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Mrs Sybil Seaton MP: 083 412 0087
Liezl van der Merwe: 083 611 7470