reduce overcrowding
14 June 2007
Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour says the department's
multi-pronged strategy to address overcrowding is beginning to bring the
desired results.
Addressing the National Council of Provinces this afternoon, Minister
Balfour said over the last six years the department reduced overcrowding by an
average rate of 4,77% per year. He said: "the fact that we accommodate 38% more
offenders than the available bed spaces (in the country's 240 correctional
centres) remains unacceptable and we remain resolute in addressing this
challenge."
Minister Balfour said the interventions made include the increase of
available bed spaces by nearly 15% through renovations, limited expansions and
re-commissioning of old prisons, reduction of awaiting trial detainees by 22%
through greater integration of the whole criminal justice system and
progressively optimising use of legal instruments at our disposal.
He praised the role of the National Council on Correctional Services (NCCS)
led by Judge Siraj Desai and the Judicial Inspectorate of Prisons led by Judge
Nathan Erasmus who had contributed in ensuring a continuous improvement in
Correctional Services and in strengthening integrated governance. "I take my
hat off these two outstanding Judges and their teams for their incisive and
visionary interventions, without which we would have been poorer in service
delivery," Minister Balfour said.
Minister Balfour also welcomed increasing levels of co-operation with
judicial officials in particular magistrates. He said the improvements could be
attributed partly to a road show that covered at least four provinces where the
officials shared knowledge, experience and strategies for addressing challenges
facing the corrections system of South Africa.
Minister Balfour said an emerging challenge threatening to reverse the
steady success in addressing overcrowding was the increasing numbers of violent
and aggressive inmates. He said the new trend cuts across women, youth,
children and adult male offenders with significant policy and strategy
questions to be answered not only by Correctional Services but to the whole
criminal justice system and the society.
Enquiries:
Manelisi Wolela
Cell: 083 626 0304
Issued by: Department of Correctional Services
14 June 2007
