N Balfour: Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services report

20 June 2006

Correctional Centres
* KwaZulu Natal, Durban Westville Correctional Centre
* Northern Cape – Kimberley, Douglas, Barkley West, Kuruman and Upington

Madame Speaker
Honourable Members

My department appreciates the oversight work of the Portfolio Committee,
which greatly assists us in fulfilling our mandate.

The visit to the Durban Westville Correctional Centre and other centres in
the Northern Cape, to gain, amongst others issues, first hand knowledge on the
Inmate Tracking system piloted at the Centre, identify blockages in the system,
which prevent release of awaiting trial detainees and also to address issues of
concern around the rehabilitation of inmates and shortage of professionals, has
surely provided the committee with a comprehensive and explicit understanding
of the challenges we face. This should be an on going process.

Inmate Tracking System:

I would like to assure the committee that the problems around this system
are being attended to with more vigour. The culprits who sabotaged the system
by stealing the 8292 tracking tags / gadgets at the Durban Westville
Correctional Centre, have been identified and are facing disciplinary
action.

Officials in my department have informed me that all the gadgets have been
recovered. I take off my hat to many correctional officials who actively
participate in the fight against corrupt practices and acts of sabotage within
our centres.

Professionals in Correctional Centres:

The underlying problem with regard to attraction of professionals in our
centres relates, amongst others, to the issue of remuneration. This is a matter
that we have decided to prioritise during this financial year, so that we
attract the best skilled professionals to our centres. This recruitment drive
is aimed at ensuring that the centres that have a dire shortage of such
professionals are taken care of.

We are also in the process of reviewing the salary packages for the few
professionals that are still in our employ, so that their remuneration is more
attractive and enables us to retain such professional skills.

Rehabilitation and Educational Programmes:

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has prioritised the
rehabilitation of offenders to an extent that, we have taken a decision to
compel offenders to undergo rehabilitation programmes. Those that resist doing
so will face penalties. It needs to be amplified that the rehabilitation of
inmates will no longer be an individual choice or decision by the
offenders.

Through this rehabilitation drive, we will also ensure that all female
juveniles of school going age attend educational programmes, as required by the
Correctional Services Act, Act 111 of 1998 and the South African Schools Act,
Act 84 of 1996.

We are therefore proud of the fruitful results that are yielded by our
educational programmes at the Durban Westville Youth School which is our
flagship school in terms of our Centres of Excellence.

HIV / AIDS Prevalence in Correctional Centres:

As stated previously, the department is currently in the process of
conducting a HIV/ AIDS prevalence survey in our correctional centre which he
hope to finalise before the end of the year. This will provide us with a
holistic and comprehensive understanding of the extent of the prevalence of
this disease both amongst inmates and staff.

Meanwhile, other comprehensive HIV/AIDS treatment initiatives jointly
conducted with the Department of Health are proceeding. These include the
further accreditation of 3 correctional centres as antiretroviral (ARV) sites,
in addition to Grootvlei in the Free State and Qalakabusha in Pietermaritzburg,
KwaZulu Natal.

Parole or Release of terminally ill inmates:

I have publicly stated that we are considering the release of terminally ill
inmates so that their welfare could be better taken care of by their relatives.
Those without relatives to take care of them could be placed in the
government’s health care centres.

This is a matter that has been relayed to the Parole Review Board and the
National Council of Correctional Services. We are determined to ensure that
those that are in deathbeds as a result of various sicknesses are able to
depart in dignity.

Internal Communication:

The Department is intensifying its internal and external communication
campaign. This is also one of the issues we have prioritised this year.
Interventions we have made in this regard include the launch of Operation
Masibambisane, which will focus on both internal and external audiences, staff
and other role players and stakeholders.

Very soon, we will see a roll out of communication internal activities,
including internal Imbizos, so that information related to departmental issues
and key policy and management directives and decisions filter to the lowest
ranks within the Department.

Staff Morale and Promotions:

The Department has undertaken to prioritise the issue of inculcating staff
morale and sound ethics within DCS as a key management issue. This is also
linked to the issue of promotions.

It is for this reason that we have mooted the idea of introducing
performance awards for staff in areas where there has been excellent
performance. In order for us to be able to achieve this, the issues of rolling
out educational programmes for both the senior and junior staff, has been
identified as a matter that must be vigorously pursued. Training is already
underway in management and leadership programmes through South African
Management Development Institute (SAMDI) and the University of Pretoria and
University of South Africa (UNISA).

Issued by: Department of Correctional Services
20 June 2006