Correctional Services Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will give accolades to correctional officials and teams that have performed excellently at a gala dinner scheduled for Friday night, 4 March 2011 at the Durban International Convention Centre.
Following a freeze of two years due to budgetary constraints, the Corrections Excellence Awards have been reintroduced with better investment into the training of winners and their development as ambassadors of excellence in the Department of Correctional Services. Minister Mapisa-Nqakula will be joined by the Deputy Minister Dr Ngoako Ramathlodi, National Commissioner Tom Moyane, Executive Managers, Members of Parliament and several dignitaries when honouring those that contributed in the department’s following achievements:
1. Sustained reduction of escapes of inmates by over 90%.2. Reduction of incidents of violence and abuse inside correctional centres by over 70%.
3. Strengthened capacity to fight fraud and corruption that resulted in 89% conviction rates and the rating of Correctional Services among 85 government agencies as one of the top three performers.
The National Corrections Excellence Awards is a culmination of a long process of selecting great performers from management areas and six regions of the department particularly in the following categories:
1. Mlombile Award – given posthumously to those that died in the line of duty as ideal correctional officials as defined in the White Paper of Corrections in South Africa
2. Good Governance Award – for those that excelled in fighting fraud and corruption, strengthening controls, improving compliance and helping in reducing instances of audit qualifications.
3. Public Safety Awards – for those that excelled in ensuring that the Department provides safe custody through limiting escapes and incidents of violence inside facilities.
4. Masibambisane Award – for those that promoted public and stakeholder ownership of corrections and participation to improve delivery of correctional services;
5. Batho Pele Award – for those excelling in customer service, responsiveness, enhancing of people development and growth as well as promoting fairness and justice.
6. Special Categories where the Minister, Deputy Minister and National Commissioner select teams that have excelled in pursuing the objectives of Correctional Services.
National Commissioner Tom Moyane has allocated half-a-million rands for the empowerment of winners of this year’s Corrections Excellence Awards and also previous winners to be developed into ambassadors of excellence in partnership with Public Administration Leadership and Management Academy (PALAMA). He has also secured a partnership with one of the leading banks in South Africa to sponsor winners. National Commissioner Tom Moyane will also on Friday sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with that bank – CAPITEC.
Your coverage of this very important event will be greatly appreciated. Kindly confirm your attendance so that all appropriate logistics (seating arrangements and services to guests) can be attended to in time for your convenience.
Kindly also SMS your confirmation and details to the undersigned - Manelisi
Enquiries:
Manelisi Wolela
Cell: 083 626 0304
