It has been eight months since the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services held a two-day hearing into convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester's prison escape from Mangaung Correctional Centre in May 2022.

Since then very little has happened to hold the authorities and their private-sector partners to account.

In April, ministers, top police and prison officials, representatives from Integritron Integrated Solutions, and multinational security company G4S, which runs the Mangaung prison, faced tough questions from MPs about Bester's escape and subsequent investigations.

MPs appeared united across party lines, promising to hold those responsible accountable for their mistakes.