Prison Social Worker Arrested After 17 Phones And Dagga Found In Her Bag

A 47-year-old social worker from the Voorberg Correctional Centre in Porterville is at the centre of a growing scandal after she was arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle 17 cellphones and dagga into the prison.

What began as a routine morning at the facility quickly turned into a full-scale security incident, shining a harsh light on the ongoing battle against corruption inside South Africa’s correctional centres.

Routine Search Exposes A Serious Breach

The incident took place on 21 February, when the staff member, identified in court papers as Ms Le Roux, arrived for duty. As she passed through a standard entrance search, officials uncovered a stash of contraband hidden in her possession.

The items, which included multiple phones and dagga, are considered high-risk inside any correctional environment. Phones can serve as a lifeline for criminal operations behind bars, enabling inmates to coordinate extortion, drug sales and other illicit activities.

Correctional Services Moves Quickly

According to the Department of Correctional Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo, the matter was immediately handed over to the South African Police Service. Nxumalo reiterated that the department has a zero-tolerance approach to contraband smuggling and said internal disciplinary processes will follow.

He added that the arrest highlights the importance of strict security protocols, especially searches involving both inmates and officials. For correctional facilities already dealing with overcrowding, gang activity and staff shortages, every breach carries consequences.

Court Appearance And Next Steps

Police spokesperson Thembakazi Mpendukana confirmed the arrest and said the suspect appeared briefly in the Porterville Magistrate’s Court on 23 February. The case was postponed to 2 March, with the accused remaining in custody until then.

Authorities have not yet released an estimated value of the seized items, and investigations are continuing.

Political Parties Raise Alarm Over Systemic Problems

The Democratic Alliance reacted strongly to the arrest, saying it exposes deeper structural weaknesses inside Correctional Services. The party argued that social workers, who play a critical role in rehabilitation and offender reintegration, should be among the most trusted individuals in the system.

Instead, the DA claims this incident shows that some officials may be aiding the very criminal networks they are meant to disrupt. It has called for independent lifestyle audits for staff with sensitive access, suggesting that an external body should be tasked with uncovering unexplained finances or possible links to organised crime.

A Reminder Of Vulnerabilities Within Prisons

While contraband smuggling is not new in South Africa’s correctional centres, the involvement of a social worker adds an unsettling layer to the story. Social workers are often the bridge between inmates and rehabilitation programmes, counselling services and release planning.

The incident now raises uncomfortable questions about internal oversight, the effectiveness of integrity checks for staff and how corruption compromises rehabilitation efforts.

Investigations are ongoing, and more details are expected to emerge when the case returns to court.

{Source:IOL}

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