Deputy Minister Makwetla commends South Africa’s Super Maximum Correctional Centre for zero escapes
The Deputy Minister of Correctional Services Mr Thabang Makwetla has commended Correctional Officials at South Africa’s only super-maximum correctional centre for ensuring zero escapes.
Since its inception in 2002, the Ebongweni state-of-the-art correctional facility, in Kokstad in KwaZulu-Natal, has not recorded a single escape. This high risk maximum facility is managed on closed maximum principles, and currently caters for 1,067 offenders in the maximum security classification from all over the country.
From 1994 to 2012/13, the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) also reduced inmate escapes from correctional centres across the country by a staggering 96 % from 1,244 in 1995 to 53 escapes per annum in 2013. In the last financial year (2013/14), although a slight increase was experienced
In 60 inmates who escaped, 49 (or 81.7%) of the 60 escapees were re-arrested.
As part of improving service delivery at South Africa’s 243 correctional centres, Deputy Minister Makwetla visited the Kokstad Management Area office yesterday (Wednesday, 10 December) which includes Ebongweni Correctional Centre, Kokstad Medium Centre, Port Shepstone, Umzimkhulu and Matatiele.
Addressing officials at Kokstad yesterday, the Deputy Minister said: “We want to commend our officials for the work being done here at South Africa’s only super maximum correctional centre. The fact that this facility has not recorded a single escape since its inception in 2002 bears testimony to the kind of work being carried out here. It’s the people who work here who make this facility impenetrable, and not just the security equipment and systems”.
Today, 11 December, Deputy Minister Makwetla is visiting the Durban Management Area office, in Westville in KwaZulu-Natal, which so far this year has also recorded zero escapes. This area includes Durban Medium A, Durban Medium B, Durban Medium C, Durban Female Centre, Durban Youth Centre and Umzinto, and currently caters for 8,878 offenders.
Enquiries:
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