Correctional Services National Commissioner Zach Modise has pledged to set a target of more than 30% for employment of ex-offender by companies tendering for work in Correctional Services.
Commissioner Modise was addressing a forth regional ex-offender workshop held in Grootvlei Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein this morning. The dialogue sessions are part of implementing the resolutions of a historic conference of ex-offenders convened by Justice and Correctional Services Deputy Minister Thabang Makwetla in July 2015 in Irene. The first of the ten resolutions taken at the conference is to ensure the establishment of ex-offender help desks across the country starting with the six regions of correctional services and the nine provinces of South Africa. Mr Modise said more work will be done to relax stringent measures regulating conditions of ex-offender employment. He appealed to ex-offenders to declare upfront their criminal records to prospective employers to demonstrate that they are rehabilitated.
Mr Modise also reiterated the undertaking made by Minister Michael Masutha during the budget vote speech in May 2016 to gradually shift the infrastructure development and maintenance programme from outsourcing to insourcing in order to employ, on contract, ex-offender with technical skills in various field of the broader construction industry. He said the department has produced artisans and technicians in various fields and industries, many of whom are unable to secure jobs that are critical to restart their lives after doing time.
Unemployment and unemployability of ex-offender because of their criminal records has consistently been raised as one of the most serious challenges confronting ex-offenders irrespective of the skills and education levels amassed while in custody. National commissioner Modise also warned against any sense of entitlement and urged ex-offenders to invest their energies to assist in preventing and combating crimes, by among others joining law enforcement agencies and social sector departments in preaching to schools that crime does not pay.
Thus far the department has held regional ex-offenders dialogues to mark the establishment of ex-offenders desk in Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Northern Cape and today in Free State. Mr Modise also said work is at an advanced stage to review the seven year old criminal records management regime as led by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.
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