Minister of Correctional Services, Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula MP, has learnt with shock of labour union POPCRU’s decision to contest the department’s newly formulated housing policy in the courts.
The drafting of the policy followed years of successive warnings by Treasury regarding the issue of double-dipping or double benefitting by some of our officials, who while receiving housing allowances as part of their salary packages were also incorrectly benefiting from state accommodation located on the terrain of our correctional facilities at cost to the State.
Following an investigation by the Office of the Auditor General, it was recommended that a housing policy be put in place as a matter of urgency as far back as 2006; this after two years Treasury had flagged this as a potential problem in the department in 2004.
It is in this context that a comprehensive housing policy was developed, which also ensures that officials whose duties necessitate that they be located on the terrain of correctional facilities in line with security considerations continue to do so.
However, it must be emphasised that housing in the department is not a work benefit or a right as part of conditions of employment of officials with the exception of the example cited above but rather a work facility that has been available in the department as a consequence of the environment within which we work.
Enquiries:
Sonwabo Mbananga
Tel: 012 305 8850
Cell: 082 045 3963
Issued by: Department of Correctional Services
19 February 2010
Source: Department of Correctional Services (http://www.dcs.gov.za/)
