South Africa is the current Chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation and through its various departments, will be expected to host the Organ’s statutory meetings.
The Department of Correctional Services, through its branch that deals with matters affecting Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) and SADC, will host the Strategic and Technical Working Group (STWG) meeting and co-host the Public Security Sub Committee (PSSC) meeting with the Department of Home Affairs. The five-day meeting will be held at the St George’s Hotel from 7 to 11 May 2012.
Co-operation on corrections and prisons affairs was brought about by the historic Johannesburg Declaration on SADC Regional Correctional Co-operation of 2 and 3 July 2003 culminating into the admittance of corrections and prisons in the SADC Organ in 2006.
As a result of the SADC Organ admission, a Prisons Sub Committee was established to discuss regional corrections and prisons co-operation. Issues under discussion at the meeting will include common regional approach on the following:
- Harmonisation and transformation of corrections and prisons services
- Corrections and prisons in peace keeping support operations
- Addressing HIV/Aids in corrections/prisons
- Integrated management information system for SADC
The National Commissioner, Mr Tom Moyane, will lead deliberations of the Strategic and Technical Working Group (STWG) and participate in the Public Security Sub Committee (PSSC) with sister departments. Countries expected to participate include Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
