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

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES: VOTE 19
REPORT OF THE ACCOUNTING OFFICER
for the year ended 31 March 2008
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Provide needs-based correctional sentence plans
for all persons who are sentenced to community
correctional supervision, incarceration in
correctional centre and paroled offenders, based
on the assessed security risk and criminal profile
of individuals, focusing on the individual’s specific
offence, and targeting all elements associated with
the offender’s behaviour.
Maintain the well-being of incarcerated persons by
providing for physical fitness, nutrition, and social
links with family and society, spiritual and moral well
being, psychological well-being and health care,
based on their needs.
Provide opportunities for social development and
the development of social conscience including
vocational and technical training, recreation, sport
and education opportunities, to promote the development
of personal and social competencies that
will enable incarcerated offenders to reintegrate into
communities as productive citizens.
Provide services to persons completing their
sentences, to facilitate their effective reintegration
into their communities and to promote general social
acceptance of offenders.
Provide, maintain and upgrade the physical infrastructure
required for those legally entrusted to the
department’s care, as well as office accommodation
required by personnel and ensuring that facilities
are available to meet the Department’s rehabilitation
responsibilities and objectives.
3.2 Tariff policy
All the tariffs are calculated according to the applicable
inflation rate for the reporting period, and in each case,
different role players are consulted in this regard to give
their inputs. In the event of necessary changes in the
tariff structure, this information is consolidated and submitted
to National Treasury for approval. After approval,
the tariffs are implemented. However, there were no
substantial changes in the tariff structure for the 2007/08
financial year. The only changes in the current tariffs
were due to inflation adjustment and were accordingly
revised after approval by the Accounting Officer.
3.3 Free services
The total expenditure incurred for free services amounts
to R38,073 million [R30,248 million]. This consists of
salary compensation of R37,859 million [R30,116 million]
to 284 [309] officials working directly with Clubs and
Messes and R213,614 [R132,500] for one official [one
official] in the Head Office Biokinetics Centre.
Free prison labour provided to other state departments
and private entities amounted to R678, 000 (R0.00).
3.4 Inventories
Inventories on hand at financial year end 31 March 2008
(Average prices are used to calculate totals)
Categories: R’000
Strategic stock 65
Agricultural 51 584
Learning and teaching support material 44
Food and food supplies 43 080
Fuel, oil and gas 2 003
Other consumables 121 210
Domestic consumables 13 489
Parts and other maintenance material 14 362
Sport and recreation 638
Stationary and printing 56 242
Medical supplies 2 105
Weapons and armaments 14 509
Other inventory 303 121
TOTAL 622 452
4. Capacity constraints
Overcrowding
Overcrowding in DCS continues to pose a challenge to
how the department functions and its ability to deliver.
The overcrowding in DCS means that accommodation
is insufficient; officials spend more time on controlling
movement and ensuring security of inmates and staff.
It has implications for personnel and resources which
have to be stretched. One of DCS’s cost drivers is the
operating costs resulting from the increased inmate
population. To deal with overcrowding the Department
has embarked on a number of initiatives that include
partnerships with Departments in the criminal justice and
social sector, application of various policies designed to
provide for alternatives to incarceration, and the continuing
function of National and Regional Overcrowding Task
Teams.
Overcrowding has had an impact on the provision of
programmes in that officials are often not able to reach
the targets they set, it puts constraints on building
infrastructure, and has created a shortage of beds thus
increasing the demand for more space. Overcrowding
also increases vulnerability of inmates to violence, and
communicable diseases such as the Multi-Drug Resistance
TB. Overcrowding is monitored through the Risk
Management Committee.
DCS Annual Report 2007/08 81