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compromise gains we made in advancing human rights.<br />

Having said that, I would like <strong>to</strong> turn now and reflect on<br />

some <strong>of</strong> <strong>our</strong> achievements during <strong>the</strong> 2007/08 financial<br />

year. The Government and <strong>the</strong> De<strong>part</strong>ment are <strong>of</strong>ten<br />

accused <strong>of</strong> being lenient on perpetra<strong>to</strong>rs <strong>of</strong> crime. Correctional<br />

Services has intensified <strong>the</strong> implementation <strong>of</strong><br />

its parole policy that mainstreams victims in <strong>the</strong> parole<br />

hearings. Chairpersons and vice chairpersons, community<br />

representatives on <strong>the</strong> Board and secretaries<br />

and clerks have been trained in victim involvement. We<br />

have constructed 8 Correctional Supervision and Parole<br />

Boards <strong>of</strong>fices while 23 are under construction and 21<br />

are in <strong>the</strong> planning phase as ano<strong>the</strong>r indication <strong>of</strong> <strong>our</strong><br />

seriousness in addressing victim’s concerns.<br />

<strong>As</strong> <strong>part</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>our</strong> <strong>commitment</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>rehabilitation</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong>fenders,<br />

<strong>the</strong> De<strong>part</strong>ment has had a number <strong>of</strong> initiatives aimed<br />

at developing <strong>of</strong>fenders and involving <strong>the</strong>m in community<br />

work. During <strong>the</strong> past financial year, <strong>of</strong>fenders were<br />

involved in <strong>the</strong> following initiatives:<br />

•<br />

•<br />

•<br />

Community infrastructure development - Offenders<br />

were involved in providing assistance for <strong>the</strong><br />

destitute and vulnerable members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> community.<br />

The construction <strong>of</strong> a house in Khayelitsha for a<br />

family being one example.<br />

Reconstruction and maintenance <strong>of</strong> dilapidated<br />

community facilities, such as old age homes,<br />

schools and institutions for abused women and<br />

children across <strong>the</strong> country.<br />

Offenders also contributed food <strong>to</strong> communities<br />

through food gardens and food donations in pushing<br />

back frontiers <strong>of</strong> poverty.<br />

The De<strong>part</strong>ment continued <strong>to</strong> play a key role on <strong>the</strong> Continent.<br />

South Africa co-hosted with Swaziland <strong>the</strong> last<br />

Conference <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Central, Eastern and Sou<strong>the</strong>rn African<br />

Heads <strong>of</strong> Correctional Services and played a leading<br />

role in <strong>the</strong> establishment <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> All Africa Corrections<br />

<strong>As</strong>sociation. Toge<strong>the</strong>r we will ensure that issues <strong>of</strong> penal<br />

reform and corrections are an integral <strong>part</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> reconstruction<br />

and development <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> continent. Penal reform<br />

has been placed on <strong>the</strong> agenda for <strong>the</strong> United Nations<br />

Commission for Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice<br />

(UNCCPCJ) and DCS will continue <strong>to</strong> play a critical role.<br />

I have continued <strong>to</strong> say that central <strong>to</strong> us executing <strong>our</strong><br />

mandate is taking care <strong>of</strong> personnel. During 2007/08,<br />

<strong>the</strong> De<strong>part</strong>ment launched <strong>the</strong> Corrections Excellence<br />

Awards <strong>to</strong> say <strong>to</strong> <strong>our</strong> employees “we recognise <strong>the</strong> good<br />

work you are doing and we enc<strong>our</strong>age all <strong>of</strong> you <strong>to</strong> adopt<br />

principles <strong>of</strong> excellence <strong>to</strong> guide everything you do”.<br />

Operation Vala, since its launch during 2005/06, continues<br />

<strong>to</strong> enhance security. Despite <strong>the</strong> few unfortunate<br />

incidents <strong>of</strong> escapes and attempted escapes, <strong>the</strong> operation<br />

itself has been an unqualified success. I will ensure<br />

that <strong>the</strong>re are systems in place that will sustain Operation<br />

Vala in years <strong>to</strong> come while also increasing integration<br />

with o<strong>the</strong>r festive season operations aimed at enhanced<br />

public safety. O<strong>the</strong>r achievements and efforts worth<br />

mentioning here are <strong>the</strong> general decline in fraud, corruption<br />

and maladministration, concerted efforts <strong>to</strong>wards<br />

fighting HIV and AIDS among personnel and inmates,<br />

improving employee wellness, <strong>the</strong> construction <strong>of</strong> Kimberly<br />

Correctional Centre and ongoing improvement <strong>of</strong><br />

existing facilities. The period under review has also seen<br />

<strong>the</strong> De<strong>part</strong>ment continue <strong>the</strong> streamlining and alignment<br />

<strong>of</strong> policies and procedures with <strong>the</strong> White Paper.<br />

<strong>As</strong> we trudge forward, we stumble upon challenges and<br />

I can report that <strong>the</strong> De<strong>part</strong>ment has taken <strong>the</strong> view that<br />

<strong>the</strong>se challenges can indeed become opportunities. For<br />

example, <strong>the</strong> challenge <strong>of</strong> corruption has resulted in <strong>the</strong><br />

De<strong>part</strong>ment developing sound policies and formidable<br />

institutions and <strong>part</strong>nerships <strong>to</strong> fight fraud and corruption<br />

while also intensifying training <strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong>ficials on ethics<br />

management. Ano<strong>the</strong>r challenge that we are turning<br />

in<strong>to</strong> an opportunity is that <strong>of</strong> moni<strong>to</strong>ring and evaluating<br />

<strong>our</strong> delivery, through <strong>our</strong> project <strong>to</strong> develop an effective<br />

moni<strong>to</strong>ring, evaluation and reporting system. The project<br />

<strong>of</strong> developing such a <strong>to</strong>ol is underway <strong>to</strong> help us focus<br />

on what matters most and improve overall correctional<br />

services delivery.<br />

I am confident that we are on c<strong>our</strong>se and we continue <strong>to</strong><br />

build on <strong>the</strong> foundations we laid during <strong>the</strong> past 14 years<br />

<strong>of</strong> democracy. For example <strong>the</strong> review <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Criminal<br />

Justice System, <strong>the</strong> new parole policy, <strong>the</strong> amendment<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Correctional Services Act and <strong>the</strong> project on management<br />

<strong>of</strong> remand detention are some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> foundations<br />

we are building on.<br />

In concluding, I would like <strong>to</strong> mention that three <strong>of</strong> Correctional<br />

Services’ long serving and committed <strong>of</strong>ficials,<br />

Regional Commissioner <strong>of</strong> Limpopo/Mpumalanga/<br />

North-West region, Chief Deputy Commissioner <strong>of</strong> Development<br />

and Care and <strong>the</strong> Area Commissioner <strong>of</strong> Pre<strong>to</strong>ria<br />

Management Area have retired during <strong>the</strong> last financial<br />

year. During <strong>the</strong>ir time at DCS, <strong>the</strong>y have contributed<br />

much <strong>to</strong>wards <strong>the</strong> realisation <strong>of</strong> <strong>our</strong> mandate, and I<br />

believe <strong>the</strong>ir wealth <strong>of</strong> experience will be used in different<br />

forms <strong>to</strong> fur<strong>the</strong>r advance <strong>our</strong> cause.<br />

BMN Balf<strong>our</strong> MP<br />

Minister <strong>of</strong> Correctional Services<br />

31 May 2008<br />

DCS Annual Report 2007/08

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