Correctional Services National Commissioner, Mr Tom Moyane, says the department has to establish a corrections academy as part of efforts to build a professional workforce.
Commissioner Moyane was speaking at a meeting with the national leadership of Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) and the Public Services Association (PSA) that was held in Pretoria this morning.
He said the department's mandate is unique, very complex and sophisticated compared to many other linear professions, and requires multiple skills among officials responsible for correcting offending behaviour and rehabilitation.
The establishment of a corrections academy for continuous learning and re-learning is expected to take the place of two existing Corrections Colleges in Kroonstad Correctional Centre in Free State and Zonderwater Correctional Centre in Gauteng.
"I hope for a very healthy relationship with labour. A relationship that is based on trust, where management and labour as partners would do everything possible to find solutions to problems and focus together on the core mandate that matters most," National Commissioner Moyane said.
He implored POPCRU and PSA leadership to join hands in sending "a message of hope and making it a collective duty to inculcate a culture of responsibility among all officials".
He called for union support in dealing with officials that get involved in fraud, corruption and in negligent behaviour, citing the example of Harrismith mass escape of 41 awaiting trial detainees which he believes "did not escape but walked out".
The meeting was convened by national Commissioner Moyane as one of a series of introductory meetings to key stakeholders, which are planned for the next few weeks.
Mr Moyane has completed 26 days at the helm of the Department of Correctional Services as he assumed duties on 15 May 2010.
Responding to the commissioner's call for striking a balance and making the department an employer of choice, POPCRU General Secretary Nkosinathi Theledi said: "we welcome the commissioner's initiative, because meeting when there is a crisis cannot be a healthy environment".
Mr Theledi also flagged issues of implementation of the Occupation Specific Dispensation (OSD) and the level of vacancies in the department are substantive matters that need to be resolved sooner.
Also congratulating Mr Moyane on his appointment; Mr Gert Van Der Merwe of PSA said: "we are heartened by your message".
He re-iterated PSA's commitment to work in a "constructive manner" with the department, adding that the appointment of Mr Moyane has sent "a positive message to all our members".
The two unions accepted to operate in Correctional Services were represented by the President of POPCRU, Mr Zizamele Cebekhulu, General Secretary of POPCRU Mr Nkosinathi Theledi, Chief Negotiator of PSA Mr Gert Van Der Merwe and PSA Deputy Chairperson Mr Jannie Brits.
Commissioner Moyane was supported by the Minister's Political Adviser Mr Mike Ramagoma, Chief Deputy Commissioner of Corporate Services Mr Alfred Tsetsane, Ministry's Chief of Staff Mr Gcinumzi Ntlakana and other senior officials.
Concluding the meeting, Commissioner Moyane said Correctional Services "must succeed. We have no option. Together we must deal with the scourge of negligence, fraud and corruption".
He said people of South Africa expect a safer environment and that expectation should not be sacrificed for any short term gains.
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