Solidarity cautions DCS about Mangaung employees

Solidarity cautions DCS about Mangaung employees and warns of litigation 7 September 2026 Solidarity has cautioned the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) to comply with the existing court order concerning the Mangaung Correctional Centre and its employees. See the letter of demand attached here. Solidarity is considering possible litigation if the DCS continues to fail to comply with the order. This step follows the failure of the Minister of Correctional Services, the National Commissioner and the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) to respond properly to a previous letter of Solidarity. The Labour Court had already ruled on 30 April 2026 that the DCS's takeover of the Mangaung Correctional Centre from 1 July 2026 constituted a transfer in terms of section 197 of the Labour Relations Act. The centre is now being renamed the Grootvlei Prison. The G4S employees concerned were therefore to be automatically transferred to the DCS, with the continuation of their employment and the rights and obligations protected in terms of the Act and the court order. 'A court order is not an invitation that the state can simply ignore as it sees fit,' says Theunis van Staden, coordinator of the public sector at Solidarity. According to Van Staden, numerous employees reported for duty at the prison on 1 July but were refused entry. Many of the affected members have since been without their regular salary and uninterrupted service benefits from either G4S or the DCS. The consequences affect not only salary arrears but also the medical cover, chronic treatment, pension and risk benefits, housing, debt obligations and other basic household needs of employees and their families. 'Employees and their families cannot continue to pay the price for a dispute between their former employer and the state. 'The DCS has had ample time and a fair opportunity to come up with a workable solution. That time has now expired. Solidarity has cautioned the DCS to comply with the court order and is considering further litigation if this does not happen,' says Van Staden. Solidarity is also working with Solidarity Helping Hand in the meantime to provide emergency support to affected members. However, this support is only emergency relief and in no way replaces the obligations that Solidarity believes arise from the Labour Court order. Statement issued by Theunis van Staden, Coordinator: Solidarity's Public Sector, 7 September 2026