Draft Rules and Regulations of Department of Correctional Services: discussion

Meeting report

CORRECTIONAL SERVICES PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE

Overview of Policy Developments in South Africa Correctional Services 1994-2002
Draft Regulations of the Correctional Services Act

SUMMARY
This meeting was convened to finally evaluate the draft rules and regulations of the DCS. After a very brief discussion, these were unanimously adopted. The Chairperson presented a tentative Committee programme for the coming term that was also unanimously approved.

MINUTES

The Chairperson presented the Committee with a tentative work programme for the coming term. He added that he wished to fit in a meeting with SCOPA into the programme since they had identified some concerns in DCS' annual report. All the members present approved of the programme with one amendment.

It was decided that on 9 September 2003, in addition to hearing a briefing relating to progress on the building of prisons, they would also discuss the issue of electronic monitoring to relieve overcrowding etc. Mr Durand suggested that the company that had conducted the pilot electronic monitoring project be present to participate in discussion. However the Chairperson felt that if this were allowed, the Committee could be inundated with other companies also demanding to be heard. Instead, the DCS should report on the matter and the relevant company could sit in if they so desired.

At the last meeting, the members had agreed to re-examine the rules and regulations for possible loopholes during the recess period. The Members now affirmed that these were in order, should be implemented and be reviewed annually. It was in only practice that the rules and regulations would be tested.

The document was adopted in its entirety and the sentiments surrounding its implementation would be conveyed to the Ministry of Correctional Services.

The meeting was adjourned.