As part of finding solutions to South Africa’s high rate of incarceration and breaking the cycle of crime, Minister of Correctional Services Sibusiso Ndebele will host a colloquium on 19 and 20 November 2012 with various key stakeholders to discuss overcrowding, alternative sentencing as well as the draft White Paper on Remand Detention Management in South Africa.
Media are invited to cover the opening session. Details are as follows:
Date: Monday, 19 November 2012
Venue: Birchwood Conference Centre, Boksburg, Gauteng
Time: 8h30 for 9h00
Journalists attending must confirm attendance with your name, mobile number and email address by no later than 16h00 on Thursday, 15 November 2012, with Tshidi Mapole at Matshidiso.Mapole@dcs.gov.za or 076 478 3620.
Minister Ndebele said overcrowding in correctional centres must be addressed. “South Africa has 51,8 million citizens and our rate of imprisonment ranks amongst the top ten in the world. A large proportion of the inmate population comprises awaiting trial or remand detainees. Overcrowding is perhaps the single most pressing concern facing prisons around the world.
The Department of Correctional Services is also embarking on Victim-Offender Dialogues. The main thrust of this programme is to contribute to a safer South Africa, through promoting family unity and stronger community systems, as well as victim support and empowerment, while pursuing the rehabilitation of those incarcerated through well-managed rehabilitation programmes. Rehabilitation must impact the hearts, heads and hands of offenders.
The trilogy of victim, offender and community must play a leading role in the implementation of the Victim-Offender Dialogues. South Africa was recently elected Chair of the African Correctional Services Association (ACSA). We will use our position in ACSA to enhance correctional services on the continent, including persisting with the movement to reform correctional/prison systems by reducing inmate populations and promoting rehabilitation,” said the Minister.
Enquiries:
Logan Maistry
Cell: 083 644 4050
