Correctional Services
3 May 2007
Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour today announced the
appointment of Mr Vernie Petersen as the new National Commissioner of
Correctional Services.
Addressing a media briefing at the Union Buildings in Pretoria Minister
Balfour welcomed and congratulated Mr Petersen expressing "absolutely"
confidence that his wealth of knowledge and experience in social activism,
advancing democracy, good governance and service delivery improvement. He said
Mr Petersen "will be a great asset to the Department of Correctional Services."
From his work in communities of the Western Cape as a social worker, a social
activist in the National Institute for Crime Prevention and the Reintegration
of Offenders. (Nicro), an advisor to Social Development Minister to his role in
my department as both Regional Commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng as
well as Chief Deputy Commissioner of Corporate Services, we believe that Mr
Petersen is the right choice for the position" (an abridged version of his
Curriculum Vitae follows below for your reference).
Minister Balfour said: "we wish him well in his new challenge of
accelerating the transformation of the Department of Correctional Services and
implementing the comprehensive policy framework we have developed during the
first decade of freedom. We expect him working with the team of management and
staff to take this department to new heights of services delivery."
Mr Petersen is credited for his great work in victim empowerment programmes
of non government organisations, his contribution in the South African Law
Reform programme, and also for conceptualising and driving the implementation
of a number of new programmes of Correctional Services such as:
* The seven-day working week aimed at build appropriate institutional
capacity for the implementation of the White Paper and the legislation.
* An integrated human resources strategy as well as a Relationship Building by
Objectives (RBO) model that is aimed at ensuring productive and pro-active
management of labour relations in the department. The RBO was endorsed by the
Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) and the Public Service
Association (PSA) and has manifested in labour peace over the last two
years.
He is well grounded in democratic principles of broad participation,
consultation and respect for human rights.
Commenting on his appointment Mr Petersen said: "I am humbled by the
decision of the Government to appoint me as head of Correctional Services." He
said the constitutional, policy and legislative framework is firmly in place
with various international protocols endorsed by South Africa. He said the
challenge was to ensure "effective implementation" of the ideals of government
against a series of challenges facing delivery of correctional services
including limited societal responsibility and a need for greater integration of
the work of the criminal justice system.
Mr Petersen has assumed duties.
Abridged version of Curriculum Vitae for the new National Commissioner of
Correctional Services Mr Vernie Petersen
1. 3 May 2007 - National Commissioner of Correctional Services, responsible
for steering the transformation of the department in line with the
Constitutional, Legal, Policy and International Protocols on the management of
offenders thereby contributing in building a safer and more secure South
Africa.
Other positions held in Department of Correctional Services from 2004
* Regional Commissioner of Gauteng Region
* Chief Deputy Commissioner of Corporate Services
* Regional Commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal Region
Among strategic and leadership responsibilities he had assumed is Chairing
of the Steering Committee driving the implementation of a campaign to harness
organisational culture for the implementation of the White Paper.
2. Chief Director (1998 to 2004) - Department of Social Services, Population
and Development in Nelspruit.
3. Advisor (Director 1996 to 1998) to the Minister of Welfare and Population
Development, supporting the Minister amongst others in driving the Programme on
Victim Empowerment of the National Crime Prevention Strategy (NCPS).
4. Deputy National Director of Nicro (1990 to 1996) - being part of National
leadership of Nicro Head Office in Cape Town.
5. Community worker and training co-ordinator at the Church of the Province
of Southern Africa from 1982 to 1989.
6. Social Worker for Child Welfare Society in Cape Town from 1981 to
1982.
7. He has served as a leader / chairperson of various professional, non
government organisations, faith based organisations and government structures
including Project Leader of the South African Law Commission focus group of
victims of crime and as a member of the sentencing Committee of the South
African Law Commission. A member of the National Council on Correctional
Services, National Interim Consultative Committee on Developmental Welfare,
members of the United Nations Expert Group on Victims of Crime, National
Implementation Committee on Correctional Supervision. These engagements were
undertaken between 1989 and 1997.
8. He has also delivered a series of papers in national and international
conferences and workshops including the in Cyprus, Northern Ireland, Kampala -
Uganda, Geneva Switzerland, Bangkok - Thailand.
Mr Vivian (Vernie) Patrick Petersen has vast knowledge and experience on
issues currently being addressed by the department, various clusters of
government and the government as the nation seeks to place government and the
society on a new development trajectory during the second decade of
freedom.
Abridged by Department of Correctional Services.
Enquiries:
Manelisi Wolela
Cell: 083 626 0304
Issued by: Department of Correctional Services
3 May 2007
