20 - Department of Correctional Services

M A N A G E M E N T N E W S
Minister lauds ‘Jenny’s leadership
By Molatelo Mokumo
Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa Nqakula lauded the CDC
Operations and Management Support, Ms Jenny Schreiner
for her sterling job while she took charge of the department’s
administration as the Acting National Commissioner.
Ms Schreiner steered the correctional
service ship on an acting capacity
for a commendable months (from
July 2009 to May 20 0). Her efforts did not
go unnoticed. Fittingly, the minister sang her
(Ms Schreiner) praises whilst introducing the
new incumbent, Mr Tom Moyane on 7 May
in Pretoria. As per norm, senior and junior
members of staff were present when Ms Schreiner
and Mr Moyane swop seats.
Officials speak to Commissioner
Moyane By Molatelo Mokumo
In a groundbreaking move to encourage dialogue between
management and officials, the new National Commisioner, Mr
Tom Moyane afforded the officials a platform to voice their
concerns and be heard during a teleconference meeting held on
2 June.
The teleconference was held for the commissioner
to communicate his vision to
the members and for the members to
raise their praises and concerns.
Officials tuned in across the country’s correctional
facilities using 98 listening stations
to listen to the commissioner speaking.
Representatives from each of the six regions
aired their concerted views to the commissioner,
most of which restricted their views
Minister Nosiviwe
Mapisa-Nqakula after
exchanging flower with the
outgoing Acting National
Commissioner Jenny
Schreiner at the welcoming
ceremony of the new
commissioner in Pretoria
Some of the officials
who attended
the National
Commissioner’s
teleconference at
Head Office.
to warmly welcoming him and wishing him
a healthy stay at the department.
Representing Gauteng, Mr Emmanuel Khoza,
the Regional Head; Corporate Services
said, “We welcome you commissioner and
we pledge our support. There are challenges
in Gauteng like elsewhere in the regions, but
we can assure you that we will work through
them to give our best.”
Mr William Mzileni, the Regional Coordi-
6 SA Corrections Today
To the outgoing Acting National Commissioner,
the minister said, “Thank you very
much Jenny for holding the fort at a time
when we did not have a national commissioner.
Thank you for your leadership, guidance,
patience and commitment. It was not
an easy task assigned to you but you pulled
it through. I know there were moments when
you wanted to quit but I persuaded you not
to. You hung in there up to this day.”
The minister extended her gratitude to the
top management for giving Ms Schreiner
their full support. “Jenny was enabled to
lead this organisation because of your full
support. She did it because you allowed it to
happen. My sincere gratitude to all of you,”
said the minister.
She also singled out Ms Nandi Mareka who
had been the Acting Chief Financial Officer
(Acting CDC Finance) when the minister
was deployed to correctional services. The
department now has a full time Finance CDC
in Mr Siphiwe Sokhela, who resumed his duties
on 7 May together with Commissioner
Moyane
nator; HR Management and Support in Kwa-
Zulu Natal said, “The implementation of 7
– day establishment has disadvantaged us because
we are short staffed and the migration
of officials from centre based to non-centre
based and vice versa, had also affected us.
We also want to be informed on the second
phase roll out of OSD.”
It was always going to be a mission to represent
Free State and Northern Cape post
the escapes of 4 remand detainees in the
region’s Harrismith’s Correctional Centre.
Mr Gustav Wilson, the regional Head; Development
and Care, stepped up and said,
“The Harrismith incident was not our desired
welcome for you national commissioner. We
remain committed to implement the shift
system of the 7 – day establishment despite
being challenged with shortage of personnel.
We know there are budgetary constraints but
we wish to have the Corrections Excellence
Awards retained in recognition of officials’
service excellence.”
Mr Joe Makgoba, the Regional Head;
Development and Care in Limpopo, Mpumalang
and North West simply welcomed
Commissioner Moyane and invited him to
visit his region. He said that LMN supports
the commissioner’s pillars needed to deliver
service with integrity and excellence.
Eastern Cape Region’s Alfred Magaila
said, “We are committed and pledge our support
and we will follow the direction the national
commissioner is leading us to. We also
want to contribute towards changing public
perception as we rebuild the image of our
department.”
M A N A G E M E N T N E W S
Take a stand against HIV/Aids;
Ms Mkhize By Ofentse Morwane
“It is important that we all take personal and collective
responsibility to alleviate the impact of HIV and Aids in our
communities.” That was the message from the Deputy Minister
Ms Hlengiwe Mkhize during her address at the Western Cape
regional candle light memorial event held at Goodwood
Management Area on 20 May.
need to promote the rights
of those infected and affect- “We
ed, to care, treat and support
them. It is important to promote humanity
and to create an enabling environment
where there is no stigmatization and discrimination,”
continued the deputy minister.
The deputy minister also unveiled the
commitment stone which affirmed the
Western Cape Region as it resolves to
fight the scourge of the HIV and Aids
Western Cape Region’s Freddie Engelbrecht
(Deputy Regional Commissioner) said,
“We support the principles of the White Paper.
We are committed to fighting corruption.
We embrace your vision and we will provide
you with simple answers were we can. We
hope you will finalise the implementation of
OSD for social workers. We lament the migration
of non-centre based officials to centre
based purely because they want to retain
their housing units..”
In response, Commissioner Moyane said,
“The challenges you have raised affects all
of us. I intend to visit all the facilities in my
tenure of office to see the conditions under
which you work in. We primarily need to
deal with security appropriately. I am still
receiving briefing on all matters of OSD and
I’m planning to meet with organised labour
to address this matter and the 2X 2 shift system.”
He also promised to look at the public service
appointment to address under staffing,
awarding excellence and identifying quick
wins. He also expressed confidence in junior
officials as he said, “At times those at lower
ranks are more empowered with information
that could propel this department to greater
heights but are ignored.”
He said that he was not going to revise the
allocated budget but he would address the
skilling and training of officials. He urged
the regions to learn and share best practices
among themselves while he would be benchmarking
from other countries to see how best
they run corrections.
pandemic. She further encouraged all
the attendants to participate in voluntary
counselling and testing arranged by the
Department of Health on the day.
She highlighted the Department of Correctional
Services’ concerted efforts to
address HIV and Aids through:
• Utilizing the outcome of the 2006
prevalence survey to inform the strategic
direction;
• Partnering with external stakeholders
to enhance capacity for the provisioning
of services;
• The accreditation of correctional centres
as ARV sites for the provisioning
of Anti-retroviral treatment and
• The identification of HIV and AIDS
as a significant prioritized risk within
the department and reporting to the
risk committee quarterly.
Ms Mkhize also emphasised the need
to break the silence, banish stigma and
discrimination, and to ensure total inclusiveness
in the struggle against AIDS.
MAY/JUNE 20 0
“Today we are joining the world to commemorate
the International Aids Candlelight
Memorial, a program of the Global
Health Council, which is one of the oldest
and largest grassroots mobilization
campaigns for HIV and AIDS awareness
over the world.This week as we mark 27
years since the launch of the campaign
(World Aids Day), we remember the lives
of those who succumbed to the scourge
of HIV and Aids. Whilst it has become a
norm to remember those who lost their
lives, it is also important not to forget
those left behind after losing their parents,
brothers and sisters. Most of us
have personal experiences, and even
know too many who have lost loved ones
to the HIV and Aids pandemic,” said
Deputy Minister Hlengiwe Mkhize, Western Cape Regional Commissioner James Smalberger
and Regional Head Corporate Services Themba Magagula during the candle light memorial
event at Goodwood Management Area.
Deputy Minister Mkhize.
The event, which coincided with Goodwood
Management Area’s official opening
of the Mbombela Sport Grounds,
Ms Mkhize also emphasised the
need to break the silence, banish
stigma and discrimination, and to
ensure total inclusiveness in the
struggle against AIDS.
was held under the theme “many lights
for human rights through sports.” It was
attended by officials from various sectors
including the Departments of Health and
Social Development. It is held annually
to raise awareness on the negative impact
of the HIV and Aids epidemic to the
department and the community.
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