launch of a state of the art abattoir and a piggery at Middledrift Correctional
Centre in Eastern Cape, as part of the Corrections Week
16 October 2007
Mphathi Nkqubo
Kumkani yamaRharhabe
â Ah! Zanesizwe!
Sodolophu weNkonkobe Reverend Dumalisile Ngcuka
Mkhomishinala wezoluleko Nontsikelelo Jolingana nabalawuli bakho
Zidwangube nani zidwesha zakowethu
It is on days like this, when I feel absolutely confident that there is not
just a will to accelerate the transformation of our department, but the
necessary determination to bring to fruition the ideals of our correctional
system.
Programme Director
Just about 16 months ago we were here at Middledrift to pronounce a turn
around strategy for an institution that was a proverbial hot and rotten potato
â the Middledrift Maximum Correctional Centre. For years this institution was
characterised by a void in management which resulted in a leisez-faire
environment that was inimical to a security establishment.
Mphathi Nkqubo. Ngokufutshane ndingathi bekukwa 'mpundu bhenqe eTrastini'
kule Correctional Centre ebisaziwa njengeyoonqevu abangoncanyelweni, kodwa
inguvula zibhuqe.
All the security basics of a normally functioning security establishment
were flouted with impunity and incidents of undetected smuggling of illegal
substances including firearms were high with the state of the art security
system reduced to a White Elephant. The last straw was the escape of six
dangerous offenders who were serving long term sentences for among others
murder after some officials colluded with these heartless offenders to give
them access to a firearm.
Following that incident we deployed a high-level investigation and
management team which sought to get to the roots of these challenges. An audit
was done and a turn around strategy was developed which included the
re-classification of Middledrift from a maximum security facility to a medium
security centre. Various institutional weaknesses were identified for focused
interventions and we are still going strong in addressing them, thanks to the
strong cadreship of management that has been brought into this institution.
I am delighted to declare that today's celebration represents the successes
in the implementation of the turn around strategy adopted by the department
with the following key elements:
* strengthening of management and re-affirmation of its prerogatives in
ensuring discipline within a context of harmonised labour relations. Any
remnants of unethical behaviour must be warned, change or ship out because you
no longer have a place in Middledrift Correctional Centre now
* infrastructure improvements that made the facility more habitable for
offenders
* improving systems and ensuring that security basics are observed without fear
or favour
* enhancement of rehabilitation through increased productive engagement of
offenders in areas like the abattoir, piggery, egg-laying and crop production
projects. Today we are officially opening this facility and also handing it
over today. I really appreciate the progress made in maximising productive
engagement of offenders
* over 1 600 maximum category offenders were moved to appropriate facilities
after reclassification of the centre leaving only 722 medium security offenders
after rationalisation. This created a breathing space for enhanced
rehabilitation, a step in the right direction.
The interventions made in this centre and other areas of Correctional
Services throughout the country, have been increasingly aimed at meeting the
new priority obligations set by Cabinet for Department of Correctional Services
(DCS) as we move to 2009. They represent a holistic intervention that covers
all key service delivery improvement programmes.
Infrastructure
Mphathi Nqubo, you would notice that the department has made strides in
developing infrastructure for enabling rehabilitation and reintegration
programmes. I can make mention of small infrastructural changes that were made
to open up space for offender accommodation and to make it more humane.
Importantly we are finalising the construction of parole board offices and
offices for community corrections, which would allow room for more
accommodation for rehabilitation programmes inside.
The infrastructural investment of R25 million in this abattoir and other
agricultural projects which have been revitalized in this centre, means the
department's ability to sustain the needs of the offenders has improved.
Through-out this region we have six management areas whose usage of external
abattoir and meat services can be estimated to R168 000 per month and escalate
to about R2,1 million a year. Thus this investment of ensuring that we meet our
meat and agricultural needs as centres of Correctional Service means we will be
assisting the Department towards savings of about R2,1 million a year.
Seven Day Establishment
I have been reliably informed that this centre has met its quotas for
recruiting entry-level personnel in preparation for the implementation of the
Seven day establishment policy.
Currently, I am told, we are in the process of retraining managers and
officials on unit management and implementation of ORP, whilst head office is
assisting with the job refinement exercise for all establishments of the
Department to ensure that the workforce is positioned to deliver on the key
priorities of the department.
I have also been reliably informed Mphathi Nqubo that through these and
other interventions like staff training, appropriate deployment and
opportunities for opening diverse career paths for officials of the centre, the
morale of the staff working in this centre has significantly improved. Uncumo
nothakazelelo olufumana usangena emasangweni aliziko, bubungqina belithemba
likhulayo kubasebenzi beliziko.
These developments may look largely inward focused but I am sure an
effective functioning Middledrift Correctional Centre is held dearly in the
hearts and minds of the surrounding communities for they are at the forefront
of dealing with escapes and security breaches. Let us assure you that we will
leave no stone unturned in turning this facility into one of the best in
delivering correctional services with integrity and commitment to excellence in
ensuring your safety and security.
Today we are also celebrating the emergence of ideal correctional managers
and officials who will prove invaluable, not just to security considerations of
the communities, but increasingly broader development challenges of the
community. With reclassification of the facility the managers and officials
have been able to increasingly find their niche role in mainstreaming
correction and rehabilitation in broad societal development challenges like
fighting poverty, improving community infrastructure and provision of life
skills to communities.
Conclusion
Programme director I had referred to Middledrift as a 'hot and rotten
potato,' but I am sure you all bear witness when I claim that that rotten
potato has turned into a 'fresh sweet potato' we can all be proud of. Allow me
Programme Director to handover this beautiful facility into our Regional
Commissioner Nontsikelelo Jolingana. Sisi, we and all South Africans have
justifiably high expectations from this facility. I trust that they will not be
disappointed institution around, continue to be a guiding light in taking the
transformation of our department to a higher level.
Our celebration of the Corrections Week Mphathi Nkqubo is about celebrating
pockets of partnerships that we develop and harness in support of the
implementation of the new approach to correctional management. Ndingaba
ndiphosisile xa ndingenakubulela ngokungazenzisiyo kwii-Departments of Health,
Agriculture ne-Public Works ngenkxaso engagungqiyo ekwakhiweni kale-abattoir
kwanokunikelwa kwayo i-licence.
As we all must agree, this is not the end of the road, we still need the
support of these partners in ensuring the successful operations of this
facility through instituting adequate systems and capacity to run the abattoir
and the agricultural projects of this centre.
We also are calling upon institutions of higher learning around this centre
like Fort Hare University and Fort Cox Agricultural College to find ways of
exploiting these facilities for agricultural research benefits and assisting
DCS in upholding the required standards of these facilities.
Mawethu, when we capacitate offenders with rare skills like abattoir and
piggery management, we aim to put them on a good footing for employment
opportunities and economic viability when they are released. Fakani isandla ke
mawethu, sibaweze, ilizwe lethu lifuna abanjalo.
Let us renew our pledge to build a national partnership to correct,
rehabilitate and re-integrate offenders for a safer and a more secure South
Africa. Through your solidarity and participation we can ensure that all people
in particular women and children enjoy a great quality of life in South
Africa.
I thank you
For enquiries contact:
Manelisi Wolela
Cell: 083 626 0304
Issued by: Department of Correctional Services
16 October 2007
