Address by the Chief Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Correctional Services, Republic of South Africa Mr. James Smalberger Launch of Operation Vala 2015/16, Baviaanspoort Correctional Centre, Tshwane, Gauteng
Programme Director,
Gauteng MEC for Community Safety: Honourable Ms. Sizakele Emelda Nkosi-Malobane, MP,
Acting Regional Commissioner for Gauteng: Mr. Mandla Mkabela,
Regional Commissioners, Area Commissioners and all Senior Officials,
Our Colleagues from the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster,
Correctional Officials,
Representatives from Business Against Crime, and Sponsors from Business,
Members of our Communities,
Members of the Media,
Distinguished guests.
With the December holidays only a few weeks away, the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) is leaving nothing to chance when it comes to security at South Africa’s 243 correctional centres. We are making a concerted effort to ensure “A safer festive season for you!”
To this end, we are gathered here to officially launch the Department of Correctional Services Operation Vala campaign for the 2015/16 festive season. This year, we are particularly pleased that our intensified security operations will see increased cooperation with various other law enforcement agencies as you will witness today. For this, we want to convey our sincere gratitude to all our colleagues in the various Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster Departments.
This year (2015), the DCS Dog Unit also celebrates 50 years since its establishment. We wish to congratulate our Dog Unit on this milestone, and we will confer due recognition, and honour, on its members.
As DCS, we are proud to report a consistent reduction in the number of escapes from correctional centres across the country. According to the latest DCS (2014/15) annual report, the Department managed to reduce escapes to 0.031% with 99.97% of the country’s 159,563 inmates remaining safely behind bars.
Forty nine (49) escapes were reported last year (2014/15), compared to 60 the previous year (2013/14), and the majority of these escapees are back behind bars. This represents a continued decline, from as high as 1,244 escapes per year in 1995. The efficiency, and effectiveness, of our safe and secure custody programme, at correctional centres, has reached unprecedented levels.
The majority of our Correctional Officials must be commended for this remarkable achievement. We know that there are a small minority of unscrupulous officials, who themselves are criminals masquerading in DCS uniform, who will sacrifice these noble goals, for a safer and secure South Africa, for a “quick buck” on the altar of greed. We want to repeat our warnings to such officials that your days are numbered, and you will not only be investigated, disciplined and dismissed but will be criminally prosecuted, and will have to swap your brown uniform for the orange ones.
In the past month, we have witnessed an increase in members of the public aiding inmates to commit further criminal offences. On 25 October, a woman, who was visiting inmate Radovan Krecjir at the Zonderwater Correctional Centre, allegedly attempted to smuggle a cell phone and charger, and was arrested by Correctional Officials. She appeared in the Cullinan Magistrate’s Court on 27 October, charged with contravening section 119 of the Correctional Services Act, Act 111 of 1998, and defeating the ends of justice.
On 14 October, a 36-year-old woman was arrested at Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre after officials caught her, during searching operations, allegedly trying to smuggle a cell phone. We would like to, once again, warn members of the public that, in terms of the Correctional Services Act, no person may, without lawful authority, supply, convey or cause to be supplied or conveyed to any inmate, or hide or place for his or her use any document, intoxicating liquor, dagga, drug, opiate, money, or any other article.
Further, any person who assists an inmate in escaping, or attempting to escape, from any correctional centre or from any place where he or she may be in custody, is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine, or to incarceration, for a period not exceeding ten years or to such incarceration without the option of a fine or both.
We also want to extend our gratitude to communities, some of whom are present here today, that have upped their cooperation with law enforcement agencies to improve our safe, and secure, detention. We call upon you to provide no sanctuary for fugitives from justice in any corner of our country. We are calling upon citizens to do their part in this regard, and report any suspicious activity immediately, as Corrections is a Societal Responsibility.
As part of an integrated security systems approach, our security improvements include implementation of security technology systems at identified centres, implementation of the Back to Basics campaign, security awareness campaigns in regions as well as training on the implementation of the gang management strategy.
During this financial year, body scanning equipment is being installed at Kgoši Mampuru II, Johannesburg, Pollsmoor, St. Albans, Durban Westville, Groenpunt and Barberton. Cell phone detection systems are being rolled out in new-generation correctional facilities including Tswelopele (Kimberley) and Brandvlei (Western Cape).
Other current installations are targeting Johannesburg Management Area and Kgoši Mampuru II Management Area in Gauteng, Pollsmoor and Goodwood in Western Cape as well as Durban-Westville and Umzinto in KwaZulu-Natal. The intention, over the long-term, is to have cell phone detection in all correctional facilities.
I have also established a task team to advise the Department on various solutions to deal comprehensively with communication devices that are being smuggled in our correctional facilities. We continue to explore appropriate solutions in partnership with our sister departments, as well as agencies such as the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) which has already committed to work together with us in this process. We are also looking at tightening the implementation of existing laws to achieve our security objectives, as well as possible amendments to legislation and policies.
The White Paper on Corrections in South Africa clearly states that "a comprehensive security strategy is a prerequisite for correction and rehabilitation". Hence, we are working towards implementing a comprehensive, and integrated, security system over the medium term strategic framework which will substantially improve safe custody at all our facilities 24-hours-a-day.
The December/January holiday period is, generally, a period during which inmates are desperate to escape for various reasons, which include, amongst others, to participate in criminal activities or simply to be with family or friends.
It is for this reason that special emphasis is placed on security measures in correctional centres, with increased visibility, and involvement, of managers at all levels in the operational activities. Focus areas for Operation Vala include tightening security measures at correctional centres, increased supervision of officials as well as decreasing idleness amongst inmates.
From 25 November 2015 until 14 January 2016, we will step up security in all our facilities with more limitations on offender movement as well as certain food and other items. Offenders will participate in indoor activities, and games, including hand ball, five-a-side soccer, board games, table tennis, pool table competitions, volleyball, action cricket, boxing, karate, judo, Jika-Majika dance competitions, Kgati, Ncuva boards, Diketo, Morabaraba boards, draught, snake and ladder, finger board and tug of war. Operation Vala is not a period where we lock the centres, and throw away the keys until January. It is for this reason that various managers, from Head Office, Regional Offices and Area Offices, will visit correctional centres to ensure that not only is security in place, but that inmates are kept busy with meaningful activities.
Programme director, honoured guests, ladies and gentlemen, I also wish to, unequivocally, emphasize that correctional services alone can never achieve the ideals of an effective correctional system. An important facet is our partnership with communities.
One of the challenges facing correctional services is low levels of inmate visitations by families. This reduces the requisite emotional, and psychological, outlook of inmates, which is critical for effective rehabilitation and social re-integration. The disintegration of family life, and community, is a major contributor to crime.
Supporting, and rebuilding, family ties should be central to efforts to prevent, and respond to, crime. In numerous instances, incarceration diminishes contact with close relatives and undermines the family connections that could aid in restoration, especially for young offenders.
Likewise, maintaining community, and family connections, can help offenders understand the harm they’ve done and prepare them for reintegration into society. In this regard, the Department wants to encourage families, and communities, to visit, and maintain contact with, inmates.
As part of the Back to Basics campaign, tightening security measures at correctional centres will entail amongst others:
- Drastic enhancing of security at all access control points;
- Increase in impromptu, and periodic, internal and external patrols, and periodic spot checks, and cell counts, at irregular intervals/frequencies;
- Adequate staff deployment, which is of utmost importance, to ensure sufficient managers, and officials, are on duty;
- Increased, and intensified, visitor searches at exit and entry points;
- Strict adherence to visitation times;
- Confinement, and the minimization of movements, of high risk inmates;
- Deployment, and increased visibility, of Emergency Support Teams, especially at high risk centres where maximum, and remand, detainees are incarcerated;
- Limitation of unnecessary movement of inmates between sections, and increased vigilance during offender escorts;
- Introduction of special security measures at strategic sections, including hospital sections and/or sections where religious, and social workers, are at risk in correctional centres;
- Effective management and immediate attention to inmate complaints;
- Active involvement of professional staff (social workers, medical staff, religious workers and so on) to support inmates and staff; and
- Proactive handling, and management, of information received from inmates and/or other sources regarding planned escapes or other security threats.
In conclusion, we want to extend our thanks, and appreciation, to all role-players including Business Against Crime as well as all our sponsors from the business sector. The Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster, including DCS and all law enforcement agencies and emergency services, will be even more vigilant, ensuring that the people of South Africa are, and feel, safe this festive season. Finally, together, let us make this “A safer festive season for you!”
Thank you!
