The Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services visited the offices of the Judicial Inspectorate Services (JICS) offices in KwaZulu-Natal, Free State and Gauteng over the last two weeks.
During the visit, the Committee observed that all these offices were not sufficiently or adequately resourced. The major concern relates to the lengthy processes of the Department of Public Works regarding office space for the JICS. The other issue is the shortage of office equipment.
The Committee also visited the Harrismith Correctional Centre where the main concerns related to remanded detainees with a bail of less than R1000. The other issues were the lack of uniforms for sentenced juveniles, lack of skills development for offenders and educational programmes for inmates.
The Committee is pleased that in Harrismith overcrowding was not a problem. The Committee will visit centres in the Western Cape during the final week of oversight work next week.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact:
Kanyisa Ndyondya (Ms)
Parliamentary Communication Services
Tel: 021 403 8041
Cell: 083 624 0585
E-mail: kndyondya@parliament.gov.za
