Seminar on overcrowding in prisons
The office of the Inspecting Judge informs the media that the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS) is hosting a seminar on overcrowding in South African correctional centres.
The seminar will take place at Grootvlei Correctional Centre near Bloemfontein, Free State, on Wednesday 30 November 2016, from 9h00 to 13h45. A visit of the Grootvlei Correctional Centre will take place from 14h30 to 15h30.
JICS is an independent oversight body established by the Correctional Services Act 111 of 1998. Its mandate is to conduct inspections in correctional centres and report on the treatment of inmates, prison conditions as well as corrupt or dishonest practices in correctional centres and remand detention facilities.
The aim of the seminar is for JICS to engage the Department of Correctional Services, other government departments, civil society organisations, academics and the public on severe overcrowding in correctional centres; its causes; and its highly problematic concsequences. Different perspectives will be debated.
Participants are invited to engage in discussions on how to address overcrowding and its concsequences like violence; assault and torture; how to learn from experience; and steps to be taken to ensure dignity and justice for all.
Inspecting Judge (and former Constitutional Court Justice) Johann van der Westhuizen, Deputy Minister Thabang Makwetla, National Commissioner of Correctional Services Zach Modise, and Judge Lucy Mailula (chair of the National Council for Correctional Services), as well as prominent experts in the field, will speak at the event.
For further information please contact:
Samantha Naidoo
Tel: 021 421 1012
E-mail: samantha.naidoo@dcs.gov.za
Mosala Sello
Tel: 012 663 7521
E-mail: mosala.sello@dcs.gov.za
