Voorstitter,
Die ACDP wil graag die nuwe minister van korrektiewe dienst, Dr Groenewald, en adjunct minister, Ms Lindiwe Ntshalintshali, baie sterkte toewens met hulle aanstelling met sy aanstelling tot hierdie belangrike pos. Alhoewel daar baie uitdagings is, het u uit my ondervinding ‘n uitstekende Kommissaris Makgothi Thobakgale met wie ek baie goed saamgewerk het in die sesde parlement.
Overcrowding of correctional centres continues to be a concern for the Committee as it compromises the rehabilitation of inmates and places the safety and security of inmates and officials at risk. The ACDP notes with concern the increase in overcrowding from 32% (in 2021/22) to 46% (in 2022/23). The Committee is also concerned that some of the measures to reduce overcrowding including the Bail Protocol, Sec 49G of the Correctional Services Act, and Sec 631 of CPA are not being used optimally. The Department is requested to look for other alternative approaches to reduce overcrowding to an acceptable level.
Although the Department achieved its target on Long Occupational Skills Programmes, the Committee is concerned with the significant decrease in the number of offenders participating in such programmes from 39 560 (in 2021/22) to 16 593 (in 2022/23). The Committee encourages the Department to ensure that more offenders participate and benefit from available skills programmes which will provide them will skills that will be used upon release to minimise reoffending.
A further matter of concern is the low targets set by the Department in some instances while over-achieving those targets. The Committee believes that these achievements do not have a significant impact on service delivery.
The ACDP commends the Department for significantly reducing escapes from 117 (in 2020/21) to 22 (in 2022/23). The Department is urged to work towards zero escapes in correctional facilities across the country to ensure that communities are safe. We are however disappointed that, again, the target for IIMS roll-out was not achieved in 2022/23 financial year. The Department ascribed this to the ongoing litigation with the service provider. The Committee requests the Department to keep it updated regarding progress in this litigation.
Having noted some challenges still facing DCS including issues such as overcrowding, vacancies and IT systems especially IIMS, the Committee will schedule a meeting with DCS to get their plans on how they intend addressing some of those issues. Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS) – Committee’s Observations and Recommendations.
The Committee commends DCS and JICS for having improved their working relationship. The Committee urges DCS and JICS to work together in addressing some of the challenges still facing JICS in carrying out its mandate. The Committee has noted that, again, the number of unnatural deaths reported by JICS differs significantly from those reported by DCS. The Committee calls upon DCS and JICS to find alternative ways to address this.
