Dlungwana on the State of Secure Care Facilities in response to the SABC
enquiry on Matete Matches, media briefing held at Old Mutual Building
23 July 2007
The Head of Social Development, Dr Maharaswa,
Executive Managers,
Government Communicators,
Representatives of the media,
Ladies and gentlemen
Secure Care Facilities
The need for Secure Care Facilities in South Africa is derived from the
Child Care Act No 74 of 1983 (as amended). Section 28 of the Act specifically
addresses the establishment and maintenance of secure care for children
awaiting trial or sentencing. The secure care facilities primarily cater for
children who are in conflict with the law and have been charged with serious
offences as stipulated in Schedule 2 of Section 29 of the Correctional Services
Act of 1959. The provisions of this Section prohibit the detention of any child
under the age of 18 in any Correctional Services holding facility or a police
cell. Therefore, the intention is to ensure that these facilities do not become
or resemble a prison in any way.
The primary concern and focus of the department in dealing with these
categories of children is the wellbeing of the offender as a child and not the
offence that they are alleged or have committed. That is why the department
does all in its capacity and the scope of possibility to provide for the
children all that is humanly necessary such as clean clothing, food, proper
physical environment and the emotional support to effect a positive change in
their lives.
Background to Matete Matches
This institution was built as a Secure Care Facility and formerly managed by
a non-governmental organisation (NGO), the SKBD. As from the 1 September 2006,
this institution was taken over by the Department of Social Development in
order to redress the poor management of the facility which was resulting in the
poor care of the children. Since then, the department has instituted a set of
transformation priorities to address the immediate challenges pertaining to
security issues, the transfer of staff from the NGO to the department, auditing
of skills and competencies of the staff as well as the improvement in the
physical environment
The challenges
It must be understood that these are no ordinary children. They are in these
facilities because they are offenders of a serious kind. Their impression of
the outlook of life is negative as a result they pose a threat to themselves
and the general environment. That is why it is easy for them to constantly look
for ways to undermine the system in which they are kept for purposes of care.
They interfere with the electricity, the plugs, they break locks and they make
weapons out of the steel frames. Their actions become a constant maintenance
challenge for the facility and require both funds and new systems in order to
ensure that the children may not interfere with them.
It is important to note that these facilities are meant for these children
to be in them whilst they are awaiting trial and sentencing. They are not meant
for them to be there permanently. However, the department cannot turn its back
in instances where their sentencing takes longer than intended as a result of
problems in investigation of their cases or the facilitation of their court
appearances or incidental reasons that are in the care of other government
departments.
As a result of the filming that took place on the 19 July 2007, in my
capacity as the MEC for Social Development, I visited the facility and found
that the following obtains:
* The poor quality of clothing originally complained about could not be
verified as clothing was of a satisfactory quality.
* Blankets of good quality are available at the centre.
* Evidence was also found of ample provisioning for clothing, blankets,
etc.
* Only one shower was not in working order. All others were tested and were all
found to be in working order, with hot water available.
* The girl's section is completely separated from the boy's section and in this
cubicle a separate toilet and shower was found in good working order.
* A number of window panes were broken and not repaired yet.
* Although electricity is available at the centre, no lights are available in
the dormitory. The reason for this is that all light bulbs as well as light
switches were removed by the very children kept in the centre.
* The Department of Public Works in Kroonstad, confirmed that the electrical
repairs for the dormitory was allocated to Letboners Suppliers, a local
company.
They have already commenced with the electrical work such as under floor
heating, removal of light switches to a central point and the repair of light
bulbs in the cubicles. Confirmation was made that the electrical contractor
would be completing this assignment by Friday, 27 July 2007.
* The reason for the delay in the electrical repair is that light fittings
designed to be used in a secure care centre was not available locally and had
to be ordered from Johannesburg. These light fittings are more resistant to
damage normally caused by youth in these centres.
* A possibility of centralizing electrical controls is being explored.
In conclusion,
While we welcome the visits of members of parliament in our institutions for
purposes of oversight on our work, we however take strong exception when they
do so with the purpose of undermining the work that is being done and try to
portray the Department as incompetent and uncaring, particularly in the
media.
My appeal to the media is that reporting on the activities of the department
should be done taking into account the right context under which events are
unfolding. Secure Care Centres should be respected and treated with the
sensitivity and the context of the law under which they were created.
For further enquiries, please contact the Head of Communications:
Mr Mondli Mvambi
Cell: 083 265 2612
E-mail: mondli@socdev.fs.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Social Development, Free State Provincial
Government
23 July 2007
Source: Free State Provincial Government (http://www.fs.gov.za)
