Madam Speaker

14 years into our democracy, and participating in our last Correctional Services Budget Vote at the end of our third term of office! 

What goals have been achieved? Has the Department transformed? What still needs to be done? 

Since 1994, the criminal justice system has failed to deliver, and for most South Africans, the systemic criminality of our society appears as bad, if not worse, than it has ever been.  What many perceive to be a kid glove approach has not worked. It is time for a new, tougher, and more localised approach.

From an analysis of the Department of Correctional Services' 2006/07 Annual Report, it is clear that the department is beset by the same problems year after year. It is therefore dealing with a moving target that it has not achieved 

The DCS strategic objectives have remained the same for a number of years, indicating that it is not making progress in achieving them 

The DCS is "indecisive" when it comes to implementation of programmes to reach its strategic objectives, and is therefore failing in implementation.

This is indicated by massive under spending on building new facilities, facilities that are desperately needed, facilities that should have been completed some years ago! 

The DCS has not yet come to terms with widespread corruption among officials even though the Special Investigating Unit is making some progress in unearthing instances of fraud and corruption and taking steps against the guilty parties.

The Auditor-General's qualified report on the DCS showed problems with under spending, financial managers were not being appointed, non-compliance with established policies, poor asset management, inadequate risk management and very poor performance in filling critical vacancies in financial management and medical practitioners. The Auditor General also found that 12% of the DCS 2007/08 budget had been shifted between programmes in direct contravention of the Public Finance Management Act.

We have seen a limited number of successes and improvements on security, treatment of HIV / AIDS, departmental discipline and filling of general posts in the Department of Correctional services. 

The Annual Report was silent on what progress had been made in implementing the recommendations of the Jali Commission of Enquiry.  

The implementation of the Jali recommendations should be a separate programme within the DCS budget with specific targeted funding allocations that can be monitored to measure progress on a year-to-year basis.

For years we have been calling on the Departments of Justice and Safety & Security to take their respective responsibilities in the Justice Delivery System more seriously. A call that has continuously fallen on deaf ears! 

The large numbers of awaiting-trial detainees resulting in overcrowding of our correctional centres continues to be a matter of great concern!

The IFP has continuously called for alternative sentencing in the form of restorative justice & community service to deal with youth offenders and first time offenders, especially those accused of committing petty crimes. 

Budget allocations to rehabilitation are down from last year, while this should be the main focus of the department! Our correctional centres are also less self-sufficient in terms of offenders producing goods and services for government as a whole and the Department of Correctional Services in particular.  

IFP policy is that all offenders should work, to be productive and to provide for the needs of our correctional centres and the offender population.

We were given assurances that this is what the department is aiming for, yet little, if any progress in this regard!

While some progress has been made in reducing the number of children in correctional facilities across the country, a key problem remains, that of ensuring that those children that do remain incarcerated receive appropriate services and counselling. All children under the age of 18 years should be provided with access to education irrespective of whether they are sentenced or awaiting trial.

In addition, social work assistance should be prioritised for children.

Some children (approximately 11%) spend over 6 months and, in some cases, over 18 months in correctional centres before sentencing.  

This is an extremely long period of time to spend in a facility which offers no recreational, educational or rehabilitative services to the child. 

The escapes, while down are also still of serious concern to the Portfolio Committee, especially as it would appear in many instances that officials are involved!

I am still not at all happy with the lack of progress in the response to question posed by the Portfolio Committee to the Minister and Department on a number of issues including the Mathe escape, the Groote-Schurr incident that resulted in the death of Mr Jacque Horn a Correctional Services official.

 The Portfolio Committee is still owed full explanations in a number of these matters! 

The fact that the Department has only two training colleges for correctional officials is a serious concern. The Department is unable to reach its target in terms of the staff complement because of shortages of training colleges in the country.

I could go on and on, but my time is limited! I would have hoped to see more progress before the end of the third term of Parliament, and I would sincerely hope that the Minister and the Department go all out to ensure that good progress is made between now and the time we go to the election polls!

May I take this opportunity to thank The Commissioner and those who are dedicated Correctional Officers for their commitment to transforming the department. 

I thank our committee chairperson and my colleagues from all parties as well as the Secretarial staff for the co-operation we enjoyed over the past four years.

To our Chairperson, The Hon Dennis Bloem, a "Stirrer of Note", may I present to you the "Stirrer of the Year Award", you really deserve the wooden spoon, you are after all the "Bloeming Stirrer of the year". 
 

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Ms Sybil Seaton MP
083 412 0075