As part of our commitment to rehabilitation of offenders, the ...

PART 4: Financial Statements
4.1 Report of the Accounting Officer to the
Executive Authority and Parliament of the
Republic of South Africa
1. General review of the state of financial affairs
1.1 Important policy decisions and strategic issues
facing the department
Policy development
Amendment of Correctional Services Act
The amendment of the Correctional Services Act to be
aligned with the White Paper proceeded in 2007/08.
There were various public hearings and debates on the
Act. The amendment process is to be finalised during
2008/09. The audit of policy process indicates that
the DCS is moving well in the area of policy development.
During 2007/08 nine policies were approved that
included the policies on Social Reintegration, Integrated
Planning, Resourcing and Reporting, Special Remission
of Sentence Granted in Terms of the Constitution,
Registration and Voting by Offenders, Restorative Justice
and Child Offenders.
Implementation of the White Paper
The launch of Centres of Excellence (CoE) in 2005/06
was an initiative aimed at supporting the implementation
of the White Paper. In 2007/08, progress reports from
CoE indicate a number of challenges. Despite these
challenges, CoEs remain DCS’s best practices and are
aimed at providing a blueprint for transforming all of
South Africa’s correctional centres into effective rehabilitation-centred
institutions. The other leg of realising
78 DCS Annual Report 2007/08
the White Paper is implementation of Unit Management.
Training on unit management commenced in January
2008 in all CoE’s and a range of projects are to be
piloted, including the 7 Day Establishment and Job Refinement;
monitoring implementation of the Correctional
Services Act and the National Contact Centre.
Improving capacity to enhance service delivery
The Department developed and launched the Integrated
Human Resource Strategy in 2007/08 aimed at
establishing a framework providing for effective work
organisation, recruitment, retention, and development
of DCS employees. The DCS recognizes personnel as a
critical asset for the implementation of its mandate. The
focus areas include: recruitment and retention, training
and retraining, enhancing capacity to deliver, employee
relations and wellness, organisational culture, career
management and organisational design.
The process of implementing the Occupation Specific
Dispensation (OSD) for Correctional Officers began during
2007/08 and is aimed at providing an opportunity for
upward mobility for personnel.
Facilities
In 2006/07, the Department reported that the construction
of the new Kimberley correctional centre had commenced.
The construction is progressing as planned and
the facility is due for completion in 2009. The Department
has also planned for the construction of five Public
Private Partnership (PPP) correctional facilities over the
MTEF. Currently the DCS is managing two PPPs, one in
the Free State and the other in Limpopo, through Asset
Procurement and Operating Partnerships (APOPS).