Staff Reporter.
The Department of Justice and Correctional Services has appointed Makgothi Thobakgale as the Correctional Services acting National Commissioner.
This after the contract of former commissioner Arthur Fraser expired this month.
It was confirmed earlier this month that Fraser’s contract would not be renewed, adding him to the latest in a long list of directors-general to vacate their positions.
Fraser recently made headlines after he revealed that he took the decision to release former president Jacob Zuma on medical parole, even though the advisory board had not approved the release.
Zuma was granted medical parole earlier this month, just under two months after he was sentenced to 15 months in jail for contempt of court.
The board concluded that Zuma was in a stable condition, Fraser said at the time.
The department described Thobakgale as a “hard working and passionate” official who brings a wealth of experience into the public sector.
“He brings to the role 17 years of senior management experience in the sector, with more than seven years as accounting officer from diverse provincial departments including economic development and transport.
“Thobakgale headed the marine and infrastructure programmes and furthermore worked as Deputy Director-General in the national Department of Public Works, and among his responsibilities were infrastructure and programme management,” the department said.