Another sex scandal: Police officer impregnates inmate

Correctional Services National Commissioner Arthur Fraser has told Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services that a police officer has impregnated an awaiting-trial prisoner.

This is just one of several instances of misconduct by officials, which were heard during a virtual session on Wednesday, 12 May 2021. Officials from the department were giving the committee an update on its state of affairs, particularly pertaining to the country’s correctional facilities.

The revelation lays bare the extent of sexual misconduct amongst prison officials. It also comes as the Correctional Services department found itself at the centre of a viral prison video – in which an official was seen having sex with an inmate in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).

According to Fraser, the act occurred outside the prison and the SAPS has already instituted disciplinary proceedings against the police officer.

“What we discovered in this process is that that police officer collected the remandee and that that sexual act happened outside our facility,” he said.

“We have engaged with SAPS and they are busy with disciplinary matters in this regard. I thought we had to reflect on this so you don’t see it on social media later and think we have not registered it with the committee”

Correctional Services Commissioner Arthur Fraser

Arthur Fraser: Corrections official charged with raping inmate

National Commission Arthur Fraser further told parliamentarians that a male correctional officer was facing charges for allegedly raping a female officer in KwaZulu-Natal.

“So he is criminally charged with rape while there is a disciplinary process in place there because we feel that the offender is vulnerable, so we are moving from the perspective that it is more serious than consensual,” Fraser said.

There was also an incident in Gauteng involving a female corrections official and a male inmate. That matter is still part of a disciplinary process.

Correctional Services deputy minister Phathekile Holomisa said another female official in the Free State is said to have also engaged in sexual acts with a male inmate and was subsequently dismissed, after an inquiry was conducted into the matter.