that involved the media during one of the routine oversight visits of the
Portfolio Committee to the Pretoria Correctional Centre this morning
9 October 2006
Some media camera man and women that pitched up during the visit
accompanying the Portfolio Committee were appropriately denied access to the
correctional facility in line with a moratorium placed on direct media-offender
interactions. The Area Commissioner acted within the policy and regulatory
framework of the department by denying access.
The Department of Correctional Services is committed to the recognition of
the critical role of all media sectors in advancing its development and
corrections objectives in line with the constitution. However, a moratorium was
placed to give time for the development of a new media policy and procedure
that would help effectively balance media freedom and the right to freedom of
expression with the needs of crime victims, human rights of offenders and the
security of correctional centres.
The department established a special committee with representatives of key
players in the media and communications sectors to drive the development of a
new policy in consultation with all role-players within a period of three
months. Representatives of the Human Rights Commission, Freedom of Expression
Institute and Government Communications and Information System are serving in
the departmental committee established to drive the policy development process.
The committee is expected to consult widely in developing the new policy before
submitting a recommended policy before the end of November 2006, for Minister
Ngconde Balfour's approval. When satisfied that the policy addresses a number
of policy and procedural gaps identified, the Minister may announce the lifting
of the moratorium.
The moratorium was given impetus by a number of definite abuses by the media
and offender of the legal and policy space created by the advent of freedom at
the expense of a number of important considerations including the security of
the centres and officials, needs of victims and communities and the human
rights of offenders. In a number of instances media's chase of readership
targets and profits had led to creation of celebrities from un-rehabilitated
offenders who sometimes had hardly served a fraction of their sentences for
serious crimes against the society.
Many key players have been informed of the provisional moratorium on direct
media-offender contact and interactions.
Inquiries:
Manelisi Wolela
Tel: (012) 305 8205
Issued by: Department of Correctional Services
9 October 2006
Source: Department of Correctional Services (http://www.dcs.gov.za)
