misrepresentation about its core mandate
15 February 2007
The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has embarked on a nationwide
public education campaign to inform and educate the public about its core
mandate. No amounting of political howling and whinging from the sidelines by a
minority will divert us from this focus, as we have a responsibility to educate
and inform the majority of South Africans about our core mandate.
The implementation of this campaign was necessitated by a great need
established through independent research and a scientific scanning of its
environment in 2006 including its media coverage. After considering the results
of a tracker research commissioned in 2006 as well as its media analysis
reports, the leadership of Correctional Services decided to embark of a
sustained public education programme using various platforms including print
media, radio, stakeholder briefings, outreach programmes and intensified
internal communication.
The tracker research findings showed that although people are rating the
performance of the department progressively positively (59%), their
understanding of the department's core mandate is dismal (30%) while many (41%)
confuse the roles of various players of the criminal justice system.
The campaign includes placement of advertorial in various daily newspapers
and five minute slots on at least 14 South African Broadcasting Corporation
(SABC) stations, a campaign that began last week. This step is absolutely
necessary and the current levels of ignorance and confusion does more damage to
the delivery of correctional services and efforts to mobilise the public to buy
into the cause, and participate in ensuring greater public safety, effective
rehabilitation and social reintegration of offenders.
In welcoming the campaign, the Minister of Correctional Services, Mr Ngconde
Balfour, said this public education initiative is a watershed in the history of
correctional services as it directly responds and relates to many issues of
public interest raised or expressed by South Africans from all walks of life,
about the mandate of DCS.
"There have been many distortions and misinterpretations of the role and
function of the department generated by, amongst others, lack of information
and deliberate misrepresentation of our core mandate," he said.
Minister Balfour said the campaign intends to eliminate fiction, myths,
deliberate distortions and ignorance about the department's core mandate and
present facts and information on DCS in an unfettered manner and right in the
face of South Africans so that they can judge for themselves," he said.
Minister Balfour is confident that this campaign will make inroads in terms
of improving public perceptions and views about the core mandate of
correctional services.
Enquiries:
Manelisi Wolela
Deputy Commissioner: Communications
Cell: 083 626 0304
Luphumzo Kebeni
Director: Media Liaison
Ministry of Correctional Services
Tel: (021) 462 2314
Fax: (021) 465 4375
Cell: 082 453 2244
Issued by: Department of Correctional Services
15 February 2007
