Eighty-eight Johannesburg Correctional Officials are suspended as things return to normal. The Department of Correctional Services welcomes the return to normality of operations at the Johannesburg Management Area. Today all scheduled court appearances by inmates incarcerated at medium A were observed while new dates for those that missed their appearances have been fixed.
The department would also like to set the record straight on false reports that inmates had not been given food and those in need of health cares services had not been attended to. During the illegal industrial action by officials of Johannesburg Correctional Centres, contingency measures were implemented to ensure that food was supplied while medical cares services were rendered by health professionals that were not on strike. Additional administrative staff, Emergency Support Teams and managers from surrounding correctional centres was brought in to ensure the delivery of these critical services to inmates on Monday and Tuesday this week.
Members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) were already deployed to ensure public safety. In addition Correctional Services Minister Mapisa-Nqakula had also secured an agreement with the Minister of Defence and the President for soldiers to be on standby for urgent deployment in support of police in the event that correctional officials had threatened public safety and paralysed care services.
Correctional Services has welcomed the stance of Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) which distanced itself from the wildcat industrial action of the officials of Johannesburg Correctional Centres. Yesterday and today (19 to 20 August 2009) things returned to normality with 95% of the 1558 staff members resuming their duties. The centre worst affected was the Awaiting Trial Detention Centre where over 80 officials still refused to assume their normal duties yesterday. They were subsequently served with letters of intention to suspend them.
The department believes there is no justification for the illegal industrial action by officials over the OSD implementation. Evidence of political and administrative commitment of the Department is demonstrated by:
* the payments of a once off R7 500 to 38 000 officials amounting to R284 million in July 2009 for a flat rate back pay
* the payment of a one percent pays progression in August 2009 to deserving officials
* a commitment to pay the OSD adjusted salaries on 30 August 2009
* the Implementation of phase two of OSD in April 2010.
Minister Mapisa-Nqakula has issued a stern warning that "this behaviour will not be tolerated, because government has honoured its side of the bargain." The Minister has reiterated that in terms of the Labour Relations Act and the agreements of the bargaining council any form of industrial action is prohibited in an essential service and security institution like Correctional Services. She said: "it would be unfortunate if correctional officials were to loose their jobs on a matter that is receiving top priority attention of government, but we will not hesitate to take action."
Enquiries:
Manelisi Wolela
Cell: 083 626 0304
Issued by: Department of Correctional Services
20 August 2009
