Acting national Commissioner of Correctional Services Siphiwe Sokhela has welcomed the Labour Court's decision to grant an interdict against striking officials of the department as an important step towards ensuring the safety and security of officials, inmates, service providers and the public.
Mr Sokhela reiterated his earlier appreciation of the discipline and commitment of the vast majority of Correctional Officials to continued service delivery at this time.
The Labour Court in Johannesburg has granted Correctional Services an interdict against any strike action by Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU), its officials and members working in the Department of Correctional Services.
The interdict granted this morning says:
- All POPCRU members who are members or employees of the Department of Correctional Services are interdicted from embarking on the strike and
- POPCRU, its officials and members of POPCRU are interdicted from promoting, encouraging or supporting participation in a strike by all employees of Correctional Services.
This now means that all officials of the department irrespective of their union affiliations are reminded through interdicts that as employees of an essential service institution, they are prohibited from striking.
Mr Sokhela said: "The very few that have thus far participated in the strike action will face disciplinary processes, as participation in any industrial action is prohibited by law and by the recently obtained court interdicts".
The department resubmitted an application for an interdict against POPCRU this morning after a provisional withdrawal of the application yesterday in order to provide more concrete evidence of union members' violations of the Labour Relations Act.
The steps taken by the department followed POPCRU’s call for its members to embark on the strike action as part of a broader industrial dispute currently affecting the public service in South Africa.
Acting national commissioner and the executive management of Correctional Services called for continued discipline and commitment to serve the nation and ensure that all people of South Africa are and feel safe.
Enquiries:
Manelisi Wolela
Cell: 083 626 0304
