Services, Mr Vernie Petersen, at the official launch of the 2007 Festive Season
Security Plan: Operation Vala, Kokstad
27 November 2007
Programme Director
Minister of Correctional Services Mr Ngconde Balfour
Deputy Minister of Correctional Services Me Loretta Jacobus
MEC for Safety and Security Mr Bheki Cele
The Executive Mayor of Sisonke District Municipality and your councillors
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Allow me to express our gratitude to the Executive Mayor of Sisonke District
Municipality for such a warm welcome to his area of his jurisdiction. This warm
reception is a symbol of many things to come for this community and this
correctional centre, brought about by what I can confidently say is Operation
Masibambisane in practice. Your stance and your vision is inspiring to all of
us.
Seeing all representatives of our stakeholders, our partners in the criminal
justice system, the multitudes of members of the community joining us in
demonstrating our collective rejection of crime here in Kokstad, is an
indicator that victory is certain.
I believe as a nation facing serious challenges of crime which, although
statistically is slightly declining, has taken a new dimension of being more
callous, aggressive and violent, we have no option but to succeed in dealing
with the crime scourge.
Everyone here today has an invaluable contribution to make in building a
safer and more secure South Africa in general and Sisonke District Municipality
in particular, and therefore each one of you are here has an indispensable role
to play in the criminal justice system.
We have, as this collective, selected and elected directly or indirectly
some of us to be our leaders so that they can carry the torch to a safer
society in front, to brave the winds, to wither the storms and to douse fires.
We wish to acknowledge them and re-affirm our full support behind them as we
march to our goal of an effective and efficient criminal justice system. These
include:
* Minister Balfour who I believe may need no introduction to you
* Deputy Minister Loretta Jacobus of Correctional Services
Today, we are gather here as witnesses that indeed there is unwavering
political will and commitment to stem the crime tide facing our correctional
system, the criminal justice system and our society. I know you have been
informed of why we are here, but to cater also for those who may have heard it
from the passers-by, be informed that our leadership is here to officially mark
the start of a comprehensive and integrated Festive Season Security Plan for
Correctional Services.
This Plan is centrally co-ordinated, with implementation championed at a
local correctional centre level with management and leadership using the broad
framework provided to guide the campaign to creatively design plans that are
accustomed to local needs and challenges. This campaign is a programme whose
time has come, with a confluence of positive developments that are propelling
us to succeed even against "scare crows masquerading as leaks of imaginary
Operation Vala plans". This is a dynamic Plan that has over the years begun to
turn the tide on festive season escapes that were becoming an albatross on our
necks as leaders and managers of Correctional Services.
Elements of the Plan include reduction of external activities, cutback on
special privileges enjoyed by offenders and their families, strengthening of
crime intelligence gathering, beefing up of physical security, conducting of
unannounced raids to remove illegal substances from our correctional centres as
well as improved oversight of operations by leadership and management.
This is a 50 day campaign which is expected to reduce escapes, improve
public safety and send a clear signal to all and sundry that we really mean
business when we say public safety is paramount in the delivery of Correctional
Services. No actions, non-action, privilege or sense of entitlement will be
allowed to compromise this commitment to a safer and a more secure South
Africa.
Just as part of this campaign, we accepted the last group of the 200 most
dangerous offenders from across the country. Again, we seek to send a clear
message to those hell-bent on making lives of our officials, members of the
public and other offenders unbearable that we will not tolerate this kind of
behaviour now and in future. No one will be spared of this "rod" which is
reserved for the worst criminals in our country.
Today we are here to make a statement, No to crime, through being tough on
crime. The Minister is leading a team of leaders and managers who are bringing
that message today. Lend us your ears, your hearts and your energies so that
together we can build a prosperous, a safer and a more secure South Africa
through stopping escapes and improving security in correctional centres.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Correctional Service
27 November 2007
