Clerk 'ran business from jail'

2007-01-09 22:24

Cape Town - A Pollsmoor Prison clerk was arrested on charges of dealing in stolen car parts and running an illegal business from government premises, said the correctional services ministry on Tuesday.

Ministry spokesperson Luphumzo Kebeni said the man was arrested with another suspect who is not a correctional services employee, but was allegedly staying illegally at the clerk's departmental residence in Pollsmoor near Cape Town.

"The second suspect is an ex-offender who has previous criminal convictions.

"The arrested official was subletting his departmental residential unit to the second suspect."

Kebeni said the clerk was due to appear in Wynberg magistrate's court.

Audit of departmental premises

Prisons Minister Ngconde Balfour said the security vetting of all staff by the national intelligence agency would be speeded up.

He said the department's residential policy would be overhauled, with staff given three years in departmental housing after which they would have to find their own accommodation.

An audit is to be carried out to find those illegally occupying department premises, illegally running businesses from them or subletting.

Those involved in illegal activities could face dismissal, said Balfour.

- SAPA