ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON CORRECTIONAL
SERVICES
JANUARY DECEMBER 2004
NAME OF COMMITTEE:
Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services.
Chairperson: Mr Dennis Bloem
MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE:
Mission
To
exercise oversight over the Department of Correctional Services, by monitoring
the implementation of policy.
To report to Parliament on all the activities of the Committee in
relation to matters concerning correctional services.
Vision
To
assist in building a strong Department that will contribute towards maintaining
and protecting a just, peaceful and safe society by enforcing court imposed
sentences and detaining prisoners in safe custody.
List of Entities reporting to the Committee:
Department
of Correctional Services
The Office of the Inspecting Judge
Non Governmental Organisations - NICRO, Centre for Conflict Resolution, Centre
for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation.
CHAIRPERSONS OVERVIEW:
A lot has been achieved thus far. The Committee will keep a vigorous eye over
the Department as part of the Committees Oversight function. The Committee
deems it important to do more oversight work, especially in other provinces as
well, than be office bound. Youth are the Committees core business. Youth are
the leaders of the country and strong action will be taken with regards to
Youth in prison. A very useful exercise is that of engaging with NGOs and the
important role they play. More support will be given to NGOs. There was a
great deal of transparency, efficiency and co-operation throughout and
discussions in committee were often robust, but frank and fair.
The Committee covered most of the work set out in its programme for the year,
however, there are few outstanding items that have to be dealt with during the
next term. The Committee requests the Department to have all briefing documents
etc. ready for consideration by the
Committee in good time. This will
prevent hasty consideration of such matters.
The Chairperson wishes to extend a word of appreciation to members of the
Committee who participated in all the committee activities despite many other
commitments. A word of appreciation
also goes to the Department for their co-operation and willingness to appear
before the Committee.
CORE OBJECTIVES:
The Objectives of the Committee are to perform all the tasks required of a
parliamentary committee in a democratic South Africa. The functions here will include:
Legislative work and oversight.
Ensuring delivery of services to all prisons in South Africa.
Stimulating
the involvement of non governmental agencies in the delivery of restorative
justice programs
Legislation:
The Committee had no Legislation before it during 2004.
Matters other than mandated legislation:
International Agreements and Protocols:
The Committee had no International Agreements or Protocols before it during
2004.
Oversight:
Institutional Oversight:
4.2.1.1 Briefings by the Department of Correctional Services:
DATE
|
SUBJECT |
|
Budget Votes; Strategic
Plans |
|
|
02 June 2004 |
Budget Votes; Strategic
Plans |
|
10 August 2004 |
Managements Strategy to
address the Overtime budget and the shift to a 7 day establishment and
related Industrial Action. |
|
24 August 2004 |
Briefing by the Regional
Commissioners of Gauteng, Free State & N.Cape, Limpopo, Mpumalanga &
North West. |
|
27 August 2004 |
Briefing by the Regional
Commissioners of Eastern Cape & Western Cape; KZN |
|
05 November 2004 |
Outsourcing of prison
kitchens |
|
09 November 2004 |
Pollsmoor Management:
Burning of prison cells and death of inmates |
4.2.1.2 Briefings by other entities:
DATE
|
ENTITY |
SUBJECT
|
|
11 August 2004 |
Civil Society Prison Rform
Initiative (CSPRI) |
Study conducted by CSPRI
into the Judicial Inspectorate & Independent Prison Visitors system. |
|
13 August 2004 |
National Institute of Crime
Prevention and the Reintegration of Offenders (NICRO) |
Juvenile Offenders and
their successful reintegration into society. |
|
20 August 2004 |
Office of the National
Director: Public Prosecution (NPA) |
Women imprisoned for
domestic violence. |
|
07 September 2004 |
(South African Human Rights
Commission) SAHRC |
Overcrowding; Children and
Youth in prison |
|
10 September 2004 |
(South African Prisoners
Organisation for Human Rights
(SAPOHR) |
Overcrowding and
Rehabilitation |
|
14 September 2004 |
Judicial Inspectorate |
2003/4 Annual Report of the
Judicial Inspectorate |
|
13 October 2004 |
Friends Against Abuse |
Sexual Violence in prison |
|
05 November 2004 |
Institute for Security
Studies (ISS) |
Criminal Justice Monitor |
4.2.1.3 Public Hearings
|
DATE |
ENTITY |
SUBJECT |
|
3 & 4 February 2004 |
Department of Correctional
Services |
Draft White Paper on
Corrections |
|
27 October 2004 |
Department of Correctional
Services |
2003/4 Annual Report of DCS
|
4.2.2.1 International / National Visits
DATE
|
INSTITUTION |
OBJECTIVE |
|
Youth in prison |
||
|
04 August 2004 |
Drakenstein Juvenile
Detention Centre |
Youth in prison |
|
17 August 2004 |
Judicial Inspectorate |
Functioning of the Judicial
Inspectorate |
|
15 October 2004 |
Youth in prison |
|
|
19 October 2004 |
Lindelani Place of Safety |
Children in alternative
institutions awaiting trial |
|
25 October 2004 |
Modderbee prison |
Joint visit with SCOPA |
|
02 November 2004 |
Pollsmoor prison |
Oversight visit: Inspection
of prison cells that burned. |
The Committee did not undertake any International Visits during 2004.
OTHER COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES:
The Committee engaged in other activities. Here the following is of
relevance:
08 June 2004
Formal deliberations on the
Departmental Strategic Plan of 2004/5.
Formal deliberations on the Estimates of National Expenditure 2004/5.
Formal consideration and adoption of the Committee report on the Budget of the
Department of Correctional Services.
03 August 2004
Formal consideration and adoption of the Committee programme for the 3rd
Term and review of Constituency work especially around corrections.
12 August 2004
Formal deliberations on the Report
on the Joint visits to Gauteng, Kwa Zulu Natal and the Eastern Cape.
12 October 2004
Formal consideration and adoption of the Committee programme for 4th Term, Report
on Prison visits during recess and tabling of the report on recommendations and
solutions to Overcrowding.
22 October 2004
Formal consideration and adoption of minutes of previous term, Consideration
of Committee Budget 2005/2006.
Consideration of Business Plan 2005/2006.
26 October 2004
Formal consideration of 2003/4 Annual report of the Department
28 October 2004
Cluster briefings on the Medium Term Budget Statement.
02 November 2004
Formal consideration and adoption of the Committee report on the Annul report
of the Department on 02 November 2004.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:
Budget allocated to Committee for financial year 2004/2005: R138 662.00
Expenditure:
Catering: R
8042.50
Oversight Visits: R
20,107.00
Total Expenditure: R 28
149.50
The Committee applied for additional funding to fulfil its role. An additional
amount of R200.000 was approved for this financial year ending 31 March 2004.
(The figures above, reflect the financial status of the Committee as at the
time of the meeting held on 15 November 2004)
7. OUTSTANDING MATTERS:
The
Committee considered the following matters to be ongoing and expressed the wish
for them to be taken up by the
Incoming committee:
A briefing by the National Task Team on Overcrowding
A briefing by the Department of Correctional Services on the four (4) New
Generation Facilities
A meeting with the Minister as well as the Portfolio Committee on Social
Development on Juveniles incarcerated and Places of Safety.
FORMAL ADOPTION OF ANNUAL
REPORT BY THE COMMITTEE
Annual Report of the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services, having been
put to the Committee, was adopted by the Committee on 15 November 2004.
.
COMMITTEE SECRETARY DATE
.
CONTROL COMMITTEE SECRETARY DATE
.
COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON DATE
APPENDIX I
COMPOSITION OF COMMITTEE:
|
January APRIL 2004 |
MAY JUN 2004 |
AUGUST 2004 till present |
|
Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services |
Ad Hoc Committee on Correctional Services |
Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services |
|
Chairperson: Mr JN Mashimbye |
Chairperson: Mr LJ Modisenyane |
Chairperson: Mr DV Bloem |
African National Congress
|
African National Congress
|
African National Congress
|
|
Bloem, Mr DV |
Bloem, Mr DV |
Bloem, Mr DV |
|
Booi, Mr MS* |
Chikunga, Ms LS |
Chikunga, Ms LS |
|
Diale, Mr LN |
Fihla, Mr NB |
Fihla, Mr NB |
|
Dlamini, Ms BO |
Magau, MS R* |
Magau, Ms R* |
|
Dyani, Mr MZ |
Mahote, Mr S* |
Mahote, Mr S* |
|
Fihla, Mr NB |
Makgate, Ms MW |
Makgate, Ms MW |
|
George, Mr MW* |
Moatshe, Mr MS |
Moatshe, Mr MS |
|
Mkono, Mr DG |
Mthethwa, Mr EN |
Molefe, Mr TC |
|
Moeketse, Mr KM |
Ramgobin, Mr M* |
Phala, Mr MJ |
|
Ncinane, Mr ZI* |
Rwexana, Ms SP |
Ramgobin, Mr M* |
|
Ngaleka, Ms E |
Sosibo, Ms JE* |
Rwexana, Ms SP |
|
Oosthuizen, Mr GC |
Tolo, Bishop, LJ |
Sosibo, MS JE* |
|
Rwexana, Ms SP |
Tshivhase, Ms T |
Tolo, Bishop LJ |
|
Sosibo, Ms JE* |
Xolo, Mr ET* |
Xolo, Mr ET |
|
Tolo, Bishop LJ |
|
|
|
Zondo, Mr RP |
|
|
Democratic Alliance
|
Democratic Alliance
|
Democratic Alliance
|
|
Van Deventer, Mr FJ |
Morkel, Mr CM |
Morkel, Mr CM |
Inkatha Freedom Party
|
Selfe, Mr J |
Selfe, Mr J |
|
Ferreira, Mr ET* |
Inkatha Freedom Party
|
Inkatha Freedom Party
|
|
Seaton, Ms S |
Seaton, Ms S |
Seaton, Ms S |
|
Xulu, Ms M* |
United Christian Democratic
Party
|
Biyela, Mr BP* |
United Democratic Movement
|
Mfundisi, Mr IS |
Independent Democrats
|
|
Maseka, Mr TJ |
African Christian Democratic
Party
|
Burgess, Mr C |
New National Party
|
Swart, Mr S |
United Christian Democratic
Party
|
|
Douglas, Mr BM |
|
Mfundisi, Mr IS |
|
Durand, Mr J |
|
African Christian Democratic
Party
|
African Christian Democratic
Party
|
|
Swart, Mr S |
|
Swart, Mr S |
|
|
Pan Africanist Congress of
Azania
|
|
|
|
Mogoba, Dr SM* |
|
|
SUPPORT STAFF:
Committee Secretary: Ms
Imogen Davids
Period from November 2003 to date.
Committee Assistant: Mr V
Mfuniselwa
Period from December 1996 to date.
Secretary to Chairperson: Ms Rene Lawrence
Period from June 2001 to date.
Researcher (Research Unit): Ms
Nadia Dollie
Period from June 1997 to date.
APPENDIX II
REPORTS TABLED:
|
Report
ATCd |
Budget
Vote debated on 15 June 2004. |