Correctional Services National Commissioner, Tom Moyane has been re-elected as the Secretary of the African Correctional Services Association (ACSA) during its first biennial conference held in Accra, Ghana.
Commenting on his election as a representative of the Department of Correctional Services, Commissioner Moyane said “the re-election of South Africa unopposed by 18 member states of ACSA is a welcomed indication of trust and confidence these countries have in South Africa. We take this demonstration very serious and together we will ensure that ACSA is built into an organisation that is sustainable and effectively contributes in addressing a series of challenges facing Corrections or Prison systems of the continent.”
He said correctional or prison systems can never overcome the challenges of overcrowding and the sluggish functioning of criminal justice systems in these countries without all stakeholders and the society in general taking responsibility for corrections. The government of Ghana opened its doors and we visited the main correctional facility in Accra that was built to accommodate 750 inmates but houses 3 400 inmates in conditions that are absolutely unacceptable. The facility is also very old and dilapidated. We welcome the construction of a new facility for accommodating 2 500 maximum offenders to help alleviate overcrowding,” Commissioner Moyane said.
He described the meeting as historic with new countries participating like the governments of Northern and Southern Sudan. The conference agreed to speed up the harmonisation of policies in order to collectively address challenges facing correctional or prison systems in Africa which include massive numbers of awaiting trial detainees that in some countries make up about 90% of inmates.
The conference started on Monday, 13 September 2010 and will be concluded tomorrow having adopted a five year strategic plan and detailed operations plans for the first year.
Other positions in the ACSA Executive Committee are filled by:
- Zambia - re-elected as Chair,
- Namibia as Deputy Chair
- Tanzania as Vice Secretary
- Ghana as Treasurer
- Swaziland as Vice Treasurer
- Nigeria as Vice Chair for Western Region
- Kenya as Vice Chair for the Eastern Region
- Angola as Vice Chair of the Central Region
- Lesotho as Vice Chair of Southern Region and
- Sudan as Vice Chair for Northern Region.
Commissioner Moyane also congratulated all countries elected to serve in the Executive Committee of ACSA.“I trust that we have a formidable team of dedicated people to take ACSA to a higher development trajectory over the next two years for the benefit of all people of the Continent,” Commissioner Moyane said.
Enquiries:
Manelisi Wolela
Cell: 083 626 0304
