Things are starting to heat up for a warden facing a charge of corruption after allegedly accepting a bribe to smuggle drugs into jail for convicts.
Stephen Manuel, 49, appeared in court on Friday in the Khayelitsha Priority Crimes Court where Prosecutor Christiaan De Jongh informed the court that a pre-trial hearing has been scheduled for August 26.
Manuel was nabbed near the gates of the Worcester Correctional Centre on 28 September 2015 during a sting operation by members of Operation Combat when he allegedly took a bribe to smokkel drugs into the prison.
Manuel appeared in the Worcester Magistrates’ Court and was granted bail of R3 000.
He was one of three wardens who were bust in connection with drugs in the Western Cape at the time.
A 35-year-old warden was arrested after members of Rawsonville SAPS reacted to a tip-off and allegedly found drugs worth more than R12 000 in his sleeping quarters at Brandvlei Correctional Centre in October.
A female warden was also arrested at Helderstroom Prison after she was allegedly found in possession of five grams of tik and a tik lollie.
A reliable source has informed the Daily Voice that an internal disciplinary hearing against Manuel is in the final stages.
“He was found guilty of contravening the Department of Correctional Services Code of Conduct. They will announce his fate next week,” says the source.
Simphiwe Xako, spokesperson for the Department of Correctional Services, did not respond to any queries.