sustained reduction of escapes and calls for tighter security to ensure public
safety
13 November 2007
Correctional Services Minister, Ngconde Balfour, says about 200 of South
Africa's most dangerous offenders will be transferred to the country's most
secure correctional centre, Ebongweni in Kokstad, KwaZulu-Natal by the end of
November 2007. Of those to be sent to Kokstad Correctional Centre, 130 are
murderers, 38 rapists, 30 robbers, one escapee and one assault case with
intentions to cause grievous bodily harm.
Addressing a meeting of the Portfolio Committee of Correctional Services in
Cape Town on the incidents and trends of escapes and security breaches,
Minister Balfour said the shifting of the offenders to Ebongweni Super Maximum
Correctional Centre forms part of the festive season security plan, code named
"Operation Vala". He said the transfers are also a strategy of the department
to deal appropriately with hardened criminals that pose serious danger to the
society, officials and other offenders.
Minister Balfour and National Commissioner, Vernie Petersen, led a high
powered delegation of Correctional Services that briefed the committee on
progress made in improving security, reducing escapes as well as steps to
address challenges facing the department. The department reported that over the
past ten years escapes went down with 93 percent from 1 244 to 113 in 2006.
The department ascribed the reduction of escapes to a combination of
interventions that include increased staff complement by over 35 percent in
three years, intolerance of unethical behaviour with summary dismissals in some
instances, improved collaboration with South African Police Services and
increasing levels of re-arrests, investment of over a half-a-billion rand on
security technology, as well as ethics training of officials.
Minister Balfour urged partners within the criminal justice system to help
expedite and finalise the case of Anannias Mathe so that he too can be taken to
Kokstad Correctional Centre where the department keeps those hardened criminal
who have no hope of being rehabilitated.
Committee members raised a series of questions about the department's
efforts to improve security, deal with criminal officials aiding escapes and
reported staff shortages particularly over weekends.
Commissioner Petersen announced that the department had taken numerous steps
including the review of disciplinary procedures to short disciplinary
processes. He said the department continues to send a very clear message that
unethical behaviour will not be tolerated in Correctional Services.
Commissioner cited the summary dismissal of three officials and resignation of
two more that were captured on a special assignment programme planning to aid
an escape.
He said the department reviewed its handling of post escape incident
investigations and its capacity to implement recommendations. "We cannot be
soft on these incidents and we will always ensure that there are consequences
as these incidents of negligence are undermining our capacity to deliver on our
mandate", National Commissioner Petersen said.
Commissioner Petersen also announced that the Department of Correctional
Services had secured an approval of the National Treasury for the introduction
of a compensation scheme for families of officials that die in the line of
duty.
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee Mr Denis Bloem and other members
of the committee congratulated the department for reducing escapes so
substantially over the last ten years, but urged the department to continue
tightening security screws.
Enquiries:
Manelisi Wolela
Cell: 083 626 0304
Issued by: Department of Correctional Services
13 November 2007
