Correctional Services Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has expressed confidence that the department is set for a turn around. Minister Mapisa-Nqakula made the comments in welcoming the new National Commissioner of Correctional Services Mr Tom Moyane and the new Chief Financial Officer Mr Eric Sokhela in Pretoria today, 17 May 2010.
The minister introduced the new executive management appointees to correctional officials in Pretoria today. She said one of the defining highlights of Mr Moyane’s career as leader and manager was turning around the Government Printing Works from a R100 million deficit to a net positive balance of over half-a-billion rands in five years. She expressed confidence that Mr Moyane’s experience in strategic management in private and public sectors would come in handy in providing leadership to the Department of Correctional Services “at this critical time”.
Also acknowledging the competencies of the new Chief Financial Officer in financial management, Minister Mapisa-Nqakula said Mr Eric Sokhela’s outstanding success was being the head of finance in the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature for ten years, nine of which the legislature received nine unqualified reports. “If he could do it with the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, I hope he will achieve it with us,” said Minister Mapisa-Nqakula.
Addressing head office correctional managers and officials for the first time, National Commissioner Moyane appreciated the confidence the Minister and Deputy Minister showed by his appointment. He undertook to speed up change in the department in order to make correctional services indeed one of the best in contributing to public safety.
He also emphasised accountability in all disciplines and highlighted the need for regional commissioners to be champions of implementing government policy. He described his appointment as a beginning of “new chapter” in the transformation of the department. He urged officials to throw their weight behind efforts to build correctional services into an effective and dynamic institution.
He called for partnership with the media to ensure that it is “more willing to support our efforts to deliver on our mandate”.
The new national commissioner hit the ground running with a series of high level meetings that started over the weekend. They include a briefing session with the minister, a meeting with the Auditor-General of South Africa and introductory meeting with the department’s executive management and the staff meeting. He is set to for a number of other engagements that include a meeting on Tuesday, 18 May 2010 with the national management committee of correctional services, the briefing of the select committee on Wednesday and a brief “meet and greet” session with the media in Cape Town on Wednesday afternoon.
Commissioner Moyane worked in the private and public sector outside and inside of South Africa. His record includes being a Managing Director of Engen Petroleum in Mozambique, Chief Director of Strategic Competitiveness Unit in the Department of Trade and Industry, He is armed with, among other academic qualifications, a Bachelor of Science (Economics) Degree from Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (Maputo - Mozambique) obtained in 1982.
He left South Africa at the height of the national students revolt against apartheid in 1976 while doing his second year B.Com (Econ) at the University of the North. He attended and acquired further education with various institutions such as London School of Economics, University of Witwatersrand and University of Cape Town. He is married with one son.
Enquiries:
Manelisi Wolela
Cell: 083 626 0304
Issued by: Department of Correctional Services
17 May 2010
