What are your concerns?
We want to avoid a situation where there is a vacuum in terms of catering services, because then inmates are going to strike.
Is the department ready to take over?
We've been informed that only 26 kitchens were catered by Bosasa, the others were insourced.
If the department can run kitchens, do you wonder why it outsourced them to Bosasa?
There was a recommendation by the then minister to outsource because correctional services didn't have some of the equipment that was needed.
And now?
We are told they are negotiating with African Global Operations/Bosasa to use their equipment.
So the relationship will continue?
We will keep on doing oversight so that the previous situation doesn't perpetuate. Because we don't know whether they're going to lease it from Bosasa or what. If we talk of termination it means the relationship between correctional services and Bosasa is stopping. Termination means there won't be any working relationship.
Can the relationship be terminated if the department is still using Bosasa equipment?
That's why we must monitor the situation very closely. They must keep on updating us.
Is it only because of Bosasa's liquidation that the department is now terminating the contracts?
They said to us they deemed it necessary because of the liquidation, because Bosasa won't be able to continue providing services.
Shouldn't you have ensured they terminated the contracts long ago?
Some of the information was not so open to us until the state capture [inquiry]. That's when we started to see that something here is not right.
Are you concerned that your predecessor took bribes from Bosasa?
Because that is sub judice can I not comment on that?
Is he still a member of the committee?
Yes.
Can the committee exercise proper oversight when someone who allegedly took bribes is on it?
Let me not dwell on that because he is to appear before the ethics committee.
Should the committee have acted when the Special Investigating Unit reported on the Bosasa bribes 10 years ago?
We told the minister we are very concerned. about this delay. It's true the SIU made recommendations in 2009 but none of these was followed until recently. He said it's the National Prosecuting Authority which is supposed to institute the prosecution. In the near future the national director of public prosecutions will appear before us and update us on . the SIU recommendations.
Given his past, are you comfortable with Arthur Fraser as commissioner of correctional services?
There is nothing before us which makes him to be not fit and proper to be the national commissioner...