Minister Ronald Lamola delivers a political overview to Parliament on various annual reports

Minister of Justice and Correctional Services to deliver a political overview to Parliament on various annual reports on 13 October 2022

The Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Mr Ronald Lamola, MP, will be presenting his political overview to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services tomorrow morning. The political overview will focus on the Annual Reports of the following departments and entities of which the Minister is the Executive Authority -

• The Department of Correctional Services
• The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development
• Legal Aid South Africa
• The National Prosecuting Authority
• The Special Investigating Unit and

• The Office of the Chief Justice
   

Some of the highlights of the respective departments and entities include –

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS):

• The number of escapes has decreased significantly from 117 in the 2020/21 financial year to 22 in the 2021/22 financial year which translates to a decrease of 95 escapes (81%). The 22 escapes reported in the 2021/22 financial year is the lowest recorded number of escapes in the past 27 years.
• As at 31 March 2022, the inmate population was made up of 96 079 sentenced offenders, 47 020 remand detainees, 123 state patients and 1 mental health care user.
• With regards to the rehabilitation programs, a total of 8 477 offenders participated in educational programmes (7 520 in GET and 957 in Further Education and Training (FET)) this is an improvement when compared to the 5 840 participations recorded during 2020 academic year.
• During 2021/22, a total of 57 816 offenders participated in various skills programmes (39 560 in long occupational skills programmes; 11 334 in short occupational skills programmes and 6 992 in TVET college programmes). This is a significant improvement as compared to an overall total of 17 267 achievement recorded during 2020/21.
• DCS has also achieved an unqualified audit opinion for two consecutive years.
• It should be highlighted that DCS generates revenue. During the 2020/21 financial year, our farms created a cost saving of approximately R94 million through internal produce, whereas in 2021/22 the saving was R115 million.
   

The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DoJCD)

• DoJCD has recorded the highest performance in four years departmental performance is currently 79%.

• With regards to the Integrated Justice System Implementation, we can advise that significant improvements have been made. The Person Verification System solution was used to scrutinize more than 122,339 accused persons, and in near real-time. It found that over 46 479 of these individuals (38%) had prior criminal records. Furthermore, 3,379 (2.8%) wanted persons could be identified as linked to the SAPS circulations as persons of interest for other cases.

• In addition, SASSA utilizes the IJS Transversal Hub to combat fraud and ensure beneficiaries’ identities are verified using IJS Person Verification Services (PIVA & PIP). From April 2021 to March2022, some 4 209 220 citizens were verified by SASSA using these services.

• When it comes to Criminal Justice System Case Integration, the IJS case integration work package seeks to realize a streamlined and efficient CJS process with effective case processing and fair outcomes. This is achieved by establishing a robust platform for managing inter- departmental information exchanges across the CJS. CJS departmental capabilities will continue to strengthen and improve the effectiveness of the South African criminal justice system. During the 2021/22 financial year, 1 989 246 cases were electronically processed via the IJS Transversal Hub using IJS system integrations between the SAPS, NPA and the DOJ&CD. These electronic information exchanges include associated docket ready notifications, docket requests, electronic charge sheets, and electronic case outcome (postponement date & reasons) integrations, making the entire system more seamless and integrated.

• Furthermore, some 1 144 police stations were linked to 509 courts across all nine provinces. These case integrations have significantly reduced time spent on data capturing and provided valuable business information for the management of the criminal justice system. There has also been extensive management focus on embedding the use of the system applications.
   

Legal Aid South Africa

• Legal Aid SA continues to enhance access to justice for all. A total of 487 552 people were provided with legal representation and legal advice during 2021/22 and this amounts to a 31% increase when compared with the previous financial year.

• This figure comprises a total of 314 998 (89%) new criminal and 40 143 (11%) new civil matters, and the provision of legal advice to 132 411 people. This is a 17% increase in criminal matters; 44% increase civil matters and 75% increase in advice matters than the 2020/21 financial year.

• Legal Aid SA finalized 360 655 matters – 317 546 (88%) were criminal matters and 43 109 (12%) were civil matters. This is 9% more finalised matters than the previous financial year.

• Legal Aid SA also assisted 11 686 children in 2021/22; 6 935 (59%) children in conflict with the law and 4 751 (41%) children involved in civil matters.

• There are various strategic highlights when it comes to Legal Aid SA. The extension of Legal Aid SA’s mandate to provide land justice services commenced on 5 January 2022 with the establishment of a Land Rights Management Unit. The organization now provides legal representation and advice services in land disputes for those who cannot afford legal representation, including farm occupiers, labour tenants and restitution claimants. Legal Aid SA is at the centre of land justice efforts in South Africa.

• Legal Aid SA was once again named a Top Employer South Africa for the 13th consecutive year. The entity has continued to prioritize maintaining excellent people practices in the workplace and strives to meet the challenges of the changing world of work to positively impact on the lives of its staff.

• With regards to its financial performance, Legal Aid SA remains committed to the responsible, accountable and prudent spending of public resources in the fulfillment of its constitutional mandate. The entity received its 14th clean and 21st unqualified audit opinion from the Auditor-General South Africa in 2021/22.
   

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)

• The Specialised Commercial Crimes Unit (SCCU) finalised 380 cases with 344 convictions, which amounts to a conviction rate of 90.5%. The number of government officials convicted of corruption increased by 38.4% (from 86 to 119) year-on-year.
• The NPA’s performance in private sector corruption prosecution improved by 39.5% (from 147 to 205 people convicted).

• There is a continued focus on crimes that affect the quality of life, such as specifically gender-based violence, with conviction rates of 74,3% in sexual offences cases and consistently maintaining high conviction rates (94.3%) in femicide and intimate partner femicide (93.8%).
• In addition, 3600 murder cases were finalised and 2787 convictions were obtained (77,4%). Some 1038 convictions were obtained in trio crimes with a conviction rate of 81.3%
• The NPA also finalised the first leg of the Steinhoff matter and mutual legal assistance requests are being finalised.
• Freezing orders to the value of R5.5 billion were obtained, exceeding the target of R2.4 billion by 129%. This performance also significantly exceeds the performance (800%) of the previous financial year, during which freezing orders to the value of R611 million were obtained.
• The Asset Forfeiture Unit obtained recoveries in the amount of R3.3 million in corruption matters.
   

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU)

• The SIU has obtained a clean audit.
• The SIU has recovered over R 436 billion in cash and/or assets that were ill- gained from unlawful or irregular contracts. In addition, thereto, the SIU has the potential to make recoveries worth more than R5.9 billion. The SIU has enrolled 54 cases in the Special Tribunal and the Unit has matters referred for the institution or defence/opposition of civil proceedings that are worth more than R3.3 billion.

The Office of the Justice (OCJ)

• The OCJ has 48% of women representation on Senior Management Service level and 32% youth representation of the department’s staff complement.
• Furthermore, there has been a significant reduction in vacancy rate, with the vacancy rate of 9.1%, which is below the 10% target set by DPSA.

At a time when the country is looking closely at the criminal justice system with a view to prosecuting and reversing the gains from those who benefited through state capture, it is imperative that these departments and entities perform optimally.

The Minister’s political overview is an ideal opportunity for the media and the public to gain a better understanding and greater details on progress which is being made in fighting crime and corruption in South Africa. Only if our people know that we are winning the war against crime and corruption can we restore faith in the rule of law.

The Minister’s political overview will be a delivered virtually at the Portfolio Committee meeting. The overview will be streamed on Parliament’s YouTube channel, via the following link: https://www.youtube.com/user/ParliamentofRSA

Media Enquiries
Chrispin Phiri
Ministry Spokesperson
Cell: +(27) 081 781 2261