20 - Department of Correctional Services

SA Corrections Today is the national
internal newsletter of the Department
of Correctional Services, Republic of
South Africa
Patron: Minister of Correctional
Services, Deputy Minister of
Correctional Services
Editor in Chief: Bheki Manzini
News Editor: Molatelo Mokumo
Layout Editor: Nathan van den Bergh
Published by the Department of
Correctional Services, Private Bag
X136, Pretoria 0001.
Tel: (012) 307 2296 Fax: (012) 323 4942
Repro and printing facilitated by the
Government Printing Works, Pretoria.
The opinions expressed in SA
Corrections Today are those of
the authors and do not necessarily
represent those of the editor or the
Department of Correctional Services.
The editor reserves the right to alter any
contribution or not to publish it.
Letters to the editor that are published
in this newsletter represent the personal
view of the writers and do not reflect the
views of the Department of Correctional
Services. The editor reserves the right
to amend or reject letters. Letters should
be sent to The Editor, SA Corrections
Today, Private Bag X136, Pretoria
0001 and must be clearly marked “For
publication in SA Corrections Today”.
It can also be e-mailed to:
Molatelo.Mokumo@dcs.gov.za
Copyright is reserved on all material in
this publication. Permission has to be
sought in writing.
2 SA Corrections Today
M A N A G E M E N T N E W S M A N A G E M E N T N E W S
DCS congratulate its own professor
Deputy Minister of Correctional Services, Ms Hlengiwe Buhle
Mkhize has been appointed as an Honorary Professor in the
Psychology Department, at the University of South Africa
(UNISA).
The appointment is in recognition
of her lifelong contribution in the
fields of psychology, politics, human
rights, community development and the
diplomatic corporations.
The appointment is effective from 1
June.
Professor Mkhize is an active member
of the African National Congress where
she served in various capacities.
As a Commissioner in the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission, Prof. Mkhize
chaired the Reparations Committee. She
later travelled the world sharing her experiences
and lessons learnt to other
countries facing similar challenges.
She has served in various high level
committees such Chairperson of Transparency
International S.A.; the Goldstone
Commission Committee; and as
Vice President of the Member States at
the International Criminal Court.
Prof. Mkhize has contributed extensively
in the field of mental health as a
practicing clinical psychologist and academically
as a lecturer in the field.
She has participated internationally at
conferences and seminars in programs
addressing issues such as human rights,
the effects of torture on victims, children
in armed conflict, mental health of women
political repatriates, the use of drugs
among adolescents and the challenge of
child mental health.
As Deputy Minister of Correctional
Services she continues to focus her
energies on women and children in our
correctional centers with the same zeal
that has become the hallmark of both her
work and personal life.
Before she was appointed Deputy
Minister of Correctional Services Prof.
Mkhize served the country as the Ambassador
to Netherlands.
Minister celebrates Freedom Day
with KZN officials By Nokuthula Zikhali
Officials from the KwaZulu Natal Region’s seven management
areas celebrated the provincial leg of the Freedom Day on 30
April with Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and also witnessed
as she officially unveiled new Parole Board and Dog Unit offices.
Ms Mapisa-Nqakula was accompanied
by the CDC for Development
and Care Ms Subashnee Moodley,
Eastern Cape Regional Commissioner Ms
Nontsikelelo Jolingana to an event that was
attended by Mr Mnikelwa Nxele (RC KZN),
offenders from Kokstad Management Area,
Minister Nosiviwe
Mapisa-Nqakula
and KZN Regional
Commissioner
Mnikelwa Nxele
getting to know her
officials in KwaZulu
Natal during the
celebrations of
Freedom Day.
local stakeholders and sister government departments.
In her address the, minister called on everyone
to recall the mixture of sadness and
fondness witnessed on the day Nelson Mandela
walked out of the then Victor Verster
Prison on 0 February 990. She also sent
We serve with pride! The Amathole Management Area Commissioner, Ms Noziphiwo
Dumbela, Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and National Commissioner, Mr Tom Moyane
share a delightful moment with the Head of Middledrift Correctional Centre, Marius Palvie
who had just received a 30 year service award.
Adopt a new work ethos; Minister
By: Zama Feni
Correctional officials who have just joined the Department of
Correctional Services should adopt a new work ethos that will
help to push the department’s vision forward.
This was a message from the Minister
of Correctional Services Nosiviwe
Mapisa-Nqakula during the graduation
ceremony of more than 500 learners at two
separate ceremonies held at the St Albans
and East London Correctional Centres on 07
and 08 June.
The St Albans certificates awards ceremony
had a total of 2 9 learners who are currently
stationed at the Sada, Kirkwood and St Albans
Management Areas while the East London
ceremony had 4 graduates who are
stationed at the Mthatha, Amathole and East
London Management Areas.
In her welcoming address, Regional Com-
everyone back the memory lane at the historical
moment of the 27th of April 994,
when he (Mr Nelson Mandela) was sworn as
the first democratically elected President of
the country, with pride and fond memories.
“I am reflecting on this rich path that all of
us travelled to attain our democracy. On occasions
such as this one, we should always
quote from some of the most inspiring words
of his speech on that day, to remind ourselves
what this freedom means to each one of us”,
said the Minister .
The Minister also directed her message to
the offenders who were attending the event
and said that the nature of the crimes they
missioner Nontsikelelo Jolingana said, “Our
organisation is plagued by a lot of negativity,
which I believe it’s incumbent on everyone
of us to uproot it from its deepest roots. If
we continue to fuel negative energy, we will
walk the talk and remain negative. But if we
strive for excellence, we shall achieve the
desired outcome. We are what we repeatedly
do.”
At both the ceremonies, Ms Mapisa-Nqakula
told the new graduates that “you have a
huge challenge to help change human behaviour,
a task that is not very easy. This is a task
that will demand diligence and commitment
at all times.”
Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula giving an
interview to the SABC at the opening of the
Parole Board office in KwaZulu Natal
MAY/JUNE 20 0
She added that the department expects an
official who will never abuse inmates and do
all sorts of illegal practices. She said that she
expects that the graduates will adhere to the
code of conduct at all times.
She called for programmes to ensure that
the use of offender labour is intensified and
that young offenders should be encouraged
to study.
“We cannot have a situation where offenders
watch TV and bask in the sun the whole
day – at some time in your lives, you will
leave the correctional centres and it will be
better for you to leave with something in
your hand,” she said.
Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa Nqakula
congratulating Ms Johanna Classen,the
Head of Kirkwood Centre of Excellence
for her 30 years of service with the
department.
On the other hand, the National Commissioner
Tom Moyane called on the graduates
to work smarter, be accountable and ensure
sustainability of rehabilitation programmes
for the offenders.
Commissioner Moyane said the department
cannot allow its image to be tainted by
a few corrupt individuals. He said he would
encourage inter-regional sessions where regions
will be copy best practices from the
each other.
He said in a few months time, he would
like to meet all the Area Commissioners, Regional
Heads, Heads of Correctional Centres
to discuss issues of concern.
have committed, does not have to mean the
end of their lives. She said that all offenders
have got a second chance offered through
various rehabilitation programmes. “No human
being was born, as a rule of nature, to
lead a criminal life, to be a gangster and to
have no inkling of compassion for the other
human beings,” emphasizes the Minister.
In conclusion, the Minister said freedom
should be a platform to renew our call for
an end to domestic violence and the abuse of
women and children where we should all reserve
our profound intolerance for those, who
in order to satisfy their sick desires, harm and
destroy the innocence of our children.