POLLSMOOR RAID SHAKES ILLEGAL PRISON NETWORKS
CCN Reporting
Cape Town:- In a powerful show of leadership and commitment, National Commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale spearheaded a major contraband raid at Pollsmoor Correctional Centre last night.
This operations started this week, targeting illegal prison networks and disrupting criminal activity behind bars.
The late-night operation saw authorities descend on 12 prison cells, conducting thorough searches on 398 inmates.
The result?
A haul of illegal items including dagga, cellphones, and cash, items often used by gang leaders to continue illegal operations from within prison walls.
Commissioner Thobakgale made it clear, that these raids form part of a broader nationwide campaign focused not only on confiscating contraband, but also on dismantling dangerous inmate networks.
“We’re not just searching for the sake of it,” said Thobakgale . “Our aim is to cut communication lines, shut down their outside influence, and bring order back into our correctional facilities. These operations directly disrupt the illegal prison economy.”
According to Thobakgale, some inmates continue to exert influence both inside and outside the facility, undermining rehabilitation programs and creating instability. The commissioner warned that Pollsmoor is not a haven for crime and vowed that more targeted operations would follow.
“We’re interrupting their so-called businesses. We’re ending the transactions of drugs and power plays from inside prison walls.”
This bold crackdown at one of the country’s most notorious prisons comes after months of public pressure to restore control and safety in correctional facilities. For many families and victims of crime, this is a sign that the justice system is taking serious steps to bring real change.
Ministerial action is no longer just promises, it’s results.
CCN will continue to follow the national crackdown.
