A gang-led attack on officials at Pollsmoor Prison has resulted in the death of three inmates and two correctional officers injured.
National Commissioner of Correctional Services, Makgothi Thobakgale, confirmed the incident during a media briefing on Tuesday.
The attack comes about a month after the authorities’ announcement of a management intervention at the prison in a bid to address systemic failures at the facility.
What happened?
“Correctional officials Mr Wuve Rubushe and Mr Mendo Somdyala were performing routine duties in Unit D3 of the Remand Detention Facility, shortly after breakfast had been served. At approximately 08:47, remand detainee Bonginkosi Jali, aged 46 and detained for theft, requested to use the toilet facility and was unlocked from Communal Cell 208.
“At that time, two other remand detainees, Ricardo Krotz, aged 28 and charged under POCA-related offences, and Andre Gouws, aged 22 and detained for murder, were in the passage performing cleaning duties. Tragically, all three were armed with sharpened objects.
“The assault began when Jali emerged from the toilet facility and attacked Mr Somdyala, stabbing him. Despite his injuries, Mr Somdyala managed to run to the unit office for assistance, where Mr Rubushe was stationed. The three detainees pursued him into the office and continued their attack on both officials,” Thobakgale said.
Another official, who arrived at the scene, called for backup and the additional officials disarmed and removed the attackers.
“Force had to be used to stop the assault. The detainees were immediately taken to the facility hospital, treated by the resident doctor, and later transferred to an external hospital. Sadly, Bonginkosi Jali and Andre Gouws died on the same day, while Ricardo Krotz succumbed to his injuries on 31 October 2025.
“Both officials were also taken to Constantiaberg Hospital for further medical care and have since been discharged. We remain deeply thankful for their bravery and continue to support them and their families as they recover from this traumatic event,” the Commissioner said.
He added that the “use of force in this case was unavoidable to preserve life”.
“Every incident involving force is subject to full investigation to ensure compliance with the Correctional Services Act.
“Transparency and accountability remain cornerstones of our operations, and all relevant oversight bodies and the families of the deceased have been informed,” the Commissioner noted.
Cracking down
Thobakgale noted that the initial management intervention at the facility “disrupted entrenched practices and illicit networks that had thrived in the absence of proper control”.
“This inevitably provoked resistance and resentment among those who had benefited from the previous state of affairs, creating tensions that, regrettably, culminated in the incident of 29 October 2025,” he said.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the incident was gang-related and targeted at asserting dominance in the facility, following “the department’s renewed enforcement of discipline and order”.
“Jali was reportedly a self-proclaimed “General” of the 26 Gang [and] this incident serves as a stark reminder of the deep-rooted gangsterism challenge that continues to threaten safety within correctional facilities.
“Gang activities undermine security, disrupt rehabilitation, and endanger lives. Let me be clear: gangsterism has no place in our correctional system. It destroys the very essence of rehabilitation and corrodes the moral fabric of our centres.
“The department has been implementing a comprehensive Gang Combating Strategy focusing on intelligence-led operations to detect and neutralise gang influence, enhanced staff training to identify and prevent gang mobilisation, stricter internal controls to close security loopholes, and expanded rehabilitation and reintegration programmes offering inmates education, vocational training, and psychological support to break free from gang culture,” he said.
‘Reinforce leadership stability’
A new Area Commissioner, Ntomboxolo Kungune, has been appointed to the Pollsmoor facility to “reinforce leadership stability”.
“Her extensive experience, most recently as Area Commissioner of Drakenstein, will be invaluable in steering this Management Area toward renewal and improved performance. The team deployed by Head Office on 29 September 2025 will remain on site to sustain the momentum, oversee the implementation of corrective measures, and guide the transition toward a secure, compliant, and rehabilitative environment.
“We must confront this challenge not with fear, but with resolve and unity. Our mission remains clear – to restore order, uphold safety, and promote rehabilitation. Together, as a department and as a nation, we can defeat gangsterism, rebuild trust, and ensure that correctional centres remain places of transformation rather than turmoil,” Thobakgale concluded.
RELATED | Mayor calls for cellphone signal-blocking at Pollsmoor Prison
Have you ever visited Pollsmoor Prison?
Let us know by clicking on the comments banner below …
