REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON CORRECTIONAL SERVICES ON ITS VISIT TO CORRECTIONAL CENTRES IN KWAZULU NATAL

 

The Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services, having undertaken an oversight visit to KwaZulu Natal from Monday, 13 August to Friday, 17 August 2007, reports as follows:

 

A.         Introduction

 

The Committee has undertaken oversight visits to the Kokstad Management Area, Durban Management Area, Empangeni Management Area and the Pietermaritzburg Management Area.  The following prisons were visited:

 

§         Ebongweni Correctional Centre

§         Port Shepstone Correctional Centre

§         Umzinto Correctional Centre

§         Qalakabusha Correctional Centre

§         Pietermaritzburg Correctional Centre

§         Durban Westville Correctional Centre

 

B.         Delegation

 

            The following Members constituted the delegation:

 

§         Mr DV Bloem (ANC) (Chairperson)

§         Mr NB Fihla (ANC)

§         Ms ZN Nawa (ANC)

§         Ms W Ngwenya (ANC)

§         Mr LJ Tolo (ANC)

§         Mr ET Xolo (ANC)

§         Mr I Vadi (ANC)

§         Mr J Selfe (DA)

§         Ms S A Seaton (IFP)

 

Officials accompanying the Committee:  Mr N Nhleko, Regional Commissioner and senior officials from the Regional office.

 

C.         Objectives

 

The objectives of the visit were to monitor privileges and amenities offered to inmates, especially those in maximum centres; to monitor programmes offered to offenders; to monitor the capacity of staff at these centres, especially during weekends; to monitor the functioning of Parole Boards and the overall functioning of these correctional centres.

The committee wishes to identify areas requiring intervention and assist by means of recommendations.

 

D.         Findings

 

            Overview by Regional Commissioner, Mr N Nhleko

 

The region has 42 correctional centres in seven management areas.  There are four farm centres, located at Sevontein, Waterval, Glencoe and Ncome.  The region has two production workshops situated at Durban Westville and Pietermaritzburg Correctional Centres.

 

The total offender population in the region as at 31 July 2007 is as follows:

 

Adults – 21 736

Youth under 21 years – 3 237

Children under 18 years – 496

 

The approved accommodation for the region is 20 536 and the current occupancy is at 124%.

 

Strategies to address overcrowding:

 

§         Participation on various forums, including the Child Justice, Provincial clusters, Case Flow Management, Provincial Integrated Justice Fora.

§         At these forums, the issue of Awaiting Trial Detainees, overcrowding, conversion of sentences and plea bargaining, reclassification of offenders and the utilization of alternative sentencing, are discussed.  A challenge though is the reluctance on the side of the judiciary.

 

Lock-up totals per correctional centre:

 

Name of correctional centre

Approved accommodation

Total lock-up

Percentage lock-up

Ebongweni

1440

257

17%

Port Shepstone

600

218

36%

Umzinto

445

754

169%

Qalakabusha

1392

2535

182%

Pietermaritzburg

1330

2476

186%

Durban Westville

Medium A

Medium B

Medium C

 

2315

2137

671

 

3933

4535

616

 

170%

212%

92%

 

 

Developmental/Rehabilitation programmes:

 

601 offenders participate in these programmes, with the highest number on ABET classes.

           

Social work programmes:

 

168 offenders participate in services rendered by social workers.  The main challenge lies in the retention of social workers.

 

Spiritual care programmes:

 

1015 offenders participate in these programmes, which is the highest number in comparison to other programmes.

 

Health care services:

 

The region has 17 correctional centre hospitals with in-patient facilities. 

Where there are no in-patient facilities, offenders are transferred to private hospitals.

 

Main challenges of this programme:

 

1)       The increase in the number of offenders versus the number of health care workers

2)       High staff turnover of health care professionals

3)       The lack of designated people for the Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART) programme, which is a labour-intensive.  The region has four accredited ARV sites

4)       Death as a result of HIV and Aids related reasons since testing is mandatory

 

Parole Boards:

 

The region has 8 Correctional Supervision Parole Boards (CSPB).

 

Major challenge facing CSPB’s:  The lack of a model to follow in order to execute the issue of social re-integration.

 

            Best practices/Recommendations:

           

§         Continuous communication with stakeholders like the SAPS and the Department of Justice so that informed decisions on the placement of offenders could be made.

§         Marketing the CSPB and the involvement of local government structures, local traditional leaders, farmers association in decision making.

§         Effective link-ups with the local leadership to re-integrate parolees and probationers into the community.

§         Upgrading of the current dilapidated structure of Port Shepstone and Matatiele correctional centres.

 

Social re-integration:

 

There are 31 Community Corrections offices which accommodates the following offenders:

 

§         3442 probationers

§         6765 parolees

§         2244 absconders as probationers

§         6290 absconders as parolees

 

Progress to date on social re-integration:

 

§         Appointment and training of Chairpersons of parole board in all management areas.

§         The increase in awareness of community participation in the rehabilitation of offenders

§         The utilization of Correctional Officials to compile sentence reports at all Community Corrections Centres.

§         Robust engagements and orientation on the position paper on social re-integration.

 

Human Resources Management:

 

The number of posts filled is 6927. About 795 are still vacant, 234 for promotion posts and 561 for entry level posts.  The highest number of vacant posts was created at Ebongweni C-Max.

 

Transformation challenges:

 

§         Resistance to change within DCS staff and management.

§         The involvement of senior management in transformation projects to deal with issues of racial discrimination, employee attitudes, stereotypes, human rights, etc.

§         Training of DCS management on change management principles and policies

§         The implementation of an organizational culture survey and a skills audit throughout the region

§         DCS management to intensify strategies that are aligned to the White Paper.

 

 

PRESENTATION ON EBONGWENI CORRECTIONAL CENTRE – KOKSTAD Area Commissioner, Mr J Baxter

 

Classification of the centre:

 

Ebongweni is operated in accordance to Closed Maximum Procedures and accommodates 257 offenders who committed very serious crimes and those who have behavioural problems. The centre was built in 2002 with the aim to house at least 1% of the offender population.  There are no awaiting trial detainees. 

 

Capacity of the centre:

 

Approved lock-up - 1440

Sentenced offenders – 257

 

The number reflects a 17% under-utilization of the centre.  The centre is not fully occupied due to maintenance and water provisioning problems, which even sees business pulling out of Kokstad.  Management also receives transfer requests from staff on a weekly basis. 

Currently there are plans to build a reservoir and in November 2007, a three –year project on maintenance will be implemented.  Arrangements for the admission of about 200 offenders are in progress.

 

Administration:

 

The staff complement is 396.  There are 185 vacant posts which consist of 18 professional nurses, 21 artisans, 34 nutritional posts, 6 Psychologists posts, 74 internal security posts and 32 Case officers’ posts.

 

Security:

 

The centre is highly secured and the access control to the centre is very tight, which is reason for the zero escapes since inception.  Its security is based on six pillars, with the most important being the staff and management who take pride in their work.

There is an Access Control Centre.  Staff is rotated on a monthly basis in their stations of operations.

No contact visits are taking place.

 

Corrections:

 

There are 35 offenders, who are escapees from other centres housed in the Special Care Unit, and all kept in single cells.  Offenders are kept for a minimum of three years in the centre and are then transferred to their respective maximum centres afterwards.

Offenders are kept in three phases before they are transferred, namely:

 

  • Phase 1 – Lock-alone, and 23 hours alone. They are cuffed and all their movements are escorted throughout the centre.
  • Phase 2 – The beginning of group sessions.  Movement is still limited and is under surveillance.
  • Pre-integration phase – Contact with other offenders and functions like a normal maximum centre.  After this phase, the offender is referred back to centre of origin.

 

Development and Care:

 

Offenders are involved in distance learning.  Formal education (ABET) programmes are offered at the centre and about 115 offenders participate in such programmes.

There are 5 offenders in Grade 12 and 3 at tertiary level.

 

The centre has a fully equipped hospital with 30 inpatient bed facility.  There are six nurses who render health care services.  The post of one medical practitioner is in the process of being filled.  Two doctors are currently visiting the centre and all emergencies are referred to external hospitals.

The centre has been recommended by the Department of Health for accreditation as an ARV site. Two patients are admitted per day at the hospital.

A three meal system is implemented and adhered to.

Main challenge:  The filling of the existing six vacant Psychologist posts.

 

Meeting with staff at Ebongweni

 

In their interaction with the Committee, the staff raised the following concerns:

 

  • No feedback on the performance appraisals has been received since they were assessed.
  • The provision of accommodation and transport to staff need to be prioritized, due to the risk involved in the number of staff who has to walk long distances to work.
  • The need to assess staff in order to ascertain the preparedness to deal with offenders.
  • Exit interviews need to be conducted for those officials who are expelled for bribery.
  • The revisit of offender privileges due to the high number of staff victimization by offenders which leads to offenders being expelled.

 

 

PRESENTATION ON THE PORT SHEPSTONE CORRECTIONAL CENTRE

 

Physical structure:

 

The facility is old and its structure is dilapidated and is in desperate need of repairs and maintenance.  All beds have been removed from the cells for security reasons. The condition of cells is such that it also poses security risks.

The condition of the centre poses serious health risks to both staff and offenders.  Some cells have been converted to cater for development programmes and to provide for health care services. Due to a heritage site located opposite the centre, it would be difficult to renovate the centre.

Capacity of the centre:

 

Approved lock-up - 214

Current lock-up – 226

 

The current lock-up consists of 173 adult males and 53 male juveniles. The age of offenders housed is between 19 and 24 years.  Most sentences are for a period of 12 months.

 

Administration:

 

The current number of filled posts is 195, which includes students on learnership and Community Corrections Centre staff.  Two Unit Managers have just been appointed.  The number of probationers is 124 and parolees are 466.

 

Security:

 

The centre has managed to prevent escapes on a poor structure.  Metal detectors are placed at strategic areas around the centre.

 

Corrections:

 

The centre operates in accordance with Unit Management Principles.  Offenders are handled in three phases, namely, admission and assessment, normal housing and intervention and preparation for pre-integration.

 

Special care is offered to offenders with behavioural problems, suicidal and adjustment problems.

 

Development and Care:

 

Two health care workers and two social workers are available and no psychologist services are offered at the centre.  Medical parades are done in sections.  There is a consultation room for visiting health practitioners.

 

There are no posts for educational training.  One discipline official is utilized to offer educational programmes to offenders.  There are four offenders in Grade 12.  Computer courses are offered by three lecturers, with the help of the Department of Education.

 

Meeting with staff at Port Shepstone Correctional Centre:

 

The following is a summary of the concerns raised by staff:

 

  • The decision to outsource recruitment while there are qualified personnel within the DCS is a waste of money, which could have been used to compensate staff.
  • Shortage of staff due to students who have not yet undergone basic training, who in turn need to be mentored by experienced staff. 
  • Post establishments remain the same and yet the case loads have tripled.
  • The inhumane condition of the centre, which would result in staff being blamed for any escapes that might occur.

 

 

PRESENTATION BY CHAIRPERSON OF THE PAROLE BOARD – PORT SHEPSTONE – Mr PM Pangwa

 

In his presentation, he highlighted the following:

 

The CSPB’s post establishment does not fully meet the requirements of the White Paper, due to one vacant posts of a community member that exists and those of the SAPS and Justice departments.  The Chairperson of the CMC is co-opted when necessary.

No feedback has been received yet from the Head office on the filling of these vacancies.

The board serves the following areas:  Kokstad Medium, Ebongweni Maximum, Matatiele, Mzimkhulu and Port Shepstone.

 

The total of inmates before the CSPB is 1 002 and the average case load per month is 115 cases.  In the current year, the total number of parole cases considered is 49.

 

The CSPB has created good relations with external stakeholders and other platforms, by means of Imbizos, to allow interactions with the community.  They are pro-active in dealing with local authorities but there are administrative hindrances.  Meetings with immigration officers take place in order to assist in the deportation of illegal immigrants.

 

 

Placement statistics:

 

At Ebongweni, no placement is done.  Offenders are only dealt with once they are transferred to their original centres.  The only role of the CSPB is to encourage good behaviour.

The Matatiele centre is located at the border of KZN and Lesotho. Most incarcerations are those of illegal immigrants, and mostly short-term cases are dealt with.

The bulk of the case load takes place at Kokstad Medium with 297 profiles submitted for consideration for parole.  There are three females with infants incarcerated at the centre.  Such cases are afforded the opportunity for earliest possible placement dates.

Juveniles and male offenders are transferred from other centres to Port Shepstone for placements.

Umzimkhulu has just been incorporated as an operation area.

 

PRESENTATION BY CASE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (CMC)

 

The CMC functions well with the CSPB.  Profiles are drawn up every month in preparation for the CSPB.  Short-term cases are handled by the Head of centre for monitoring.  Most serious cases are referred to the social worker.

 

There are three full-time CMC’s in the management area, and these are located at Kokstad, Ebongweni and Port Shepstone.

 

1380 cases are handled per annum.  No victim support programmes are developed, the onus is on the family of the offender to provide support, after which the social worker will do further investigations.

 

 

PRESENTATION ON UMZINTO CORRECTIONAL CENTRE BY AREA COMMISSIONER OF DURBAN MANAGEMENT AREA, MR MONAMA

 

Classification of the centre:

 

The centre is classified as a medium correctional facility which accommodates sentenced and unsentenced adults and juveniles. 

 

Capacity of the centre:

 

Lock-up (adults) – 9660

Lock-up (juveniles) – 1159 (including ATD’s)

Children lock-up - 787

Babies total – 13

 

Management of overcrowding:

 

The centre operates closely with the CSPB and CMC to expedited parole cases.  The department also complies with Section 62F/63 applications for consideration of releases.

Offenders are given alternative sentences, where they are required to pay fines or to apply for bail.

The Magistrates and Prosecutors visiting the centres, also assist in better understanding of the problem of overcrowding.

Case Flow Management meeting are held.

 

Development and Care:

 

Orientation and responsibility programmes on community corrections are offered to both officials and offenders, as part of the pre-release and resettlement programmes.

Alcohol and drug programmes are offered, but severe cases are referred to Newlands East Rehabilitation Centre and SANCA.

To address behavioural problems, youth programmes are offered four times in a year during school holidays.

Awaiting trial offenders are kept busy with sporting activities.

 

Offenders do take part in formal education programmes, vocational skills training, sporting and agricultural activities.

Different social work programmes are offered.

 

Community Liaison:

 

Liaison with different state departments, NGO’s, the local municipality to identify community services opportunities.

Community outreach programmes are offered to inform communities about social re-integration.

 

PRESENTATION BY THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PAROLE BOARD – UMZINTO

 

Statistics:

 

Parolees – 211

Probationers – 127

Absconders (parolees) – 118

Absconders (probationers) - 67

 

Currently, all CMC’s are centralized according to correctional centres.  These structures are not well- resourced in terms of staff.  Quarterly meetings are held between the CMC and the CSPB.

There are two parole boards established in this management area.  Not all parole board posts have been filled. 

The composition of the board excludes members from the Justice Cluster. The main concern is that the Parole Boards are governed by the Correctional Services Act and the other two departments are guided by other directives.  Similarly, these departments operate at different levels and they are willing to participate until their role in the Board has been clarified.  There is no clarity with regard to whose responsibility it is to approach the victims.

Meetings are held with councilors and traditional leaders regarding placements.

The main challenge is the confirmation of family members’ addresses for parolees.

The total number of releases as from 1 September 2006 to 31 July 2007 is 1164.  This number excludes that of offenders considered, but given a further profile.  26 lifer applications are still pending since November 2006.  Feedback is still awaited from the office of the Minister.

 

PRESENTATION ON QALAKABUSHA CORRECTIONAL CENTRE [EMPANGENI MANAGEMENT AREA] BY AREA COMMISSIONER NXELE

 

Escape background on the 4th August 2007:

 

10 offenders were called for a visit by an unknown official.  They were allowed to leave their units unescorted. They proceeded through the Dispatch Control Centre, where staff members on duty where assigned other duties.  They proceeded through the Central Panel door and moved behind the boiler area, out of site of cameras.  They cut through the corridor expanded aluminium  metal.

They were seen passing one of the units and an alarm was made.  They proceeded behind the said unit and cut the security fence just enough to slide underneath.  A vehicle was waiting in the main road and all were gone before any official could prevent them.

 

A joint task team between SAPS and Correctional Services was established to hunt for the escapees.

Five of the escapees were re-arrested and are kept at Ebongweni Maximum Centre.  One was shot dead in an attempt to flee, and four are still at large.

17 staff members are suspended pending investigations.

 

The escape coincided with a soccer match and the visit time.

 

Due to ongoing investigations on the matter, a progress report would be forwarded to the Committee in due course.

 

Classification:

 

The centre is classified as a maximum, which houses different types of offenders, ranging from life imprisonment to all sorts of sentences, even beyond the scope of its design.  It was initially designed to house medium offenders, but due to a growth in offender population, it has become partly medium and maximum.

 

Total lock-up average:

 

Official accommodation – 1 392

Maximum offenders (male)  - 1 083

Medium offenders (male) – 899

Awaiting trial detainees – 400

Juvenile (maximum) – 58

Juvenile (medium) - 16

 

Post establishment:

 

The centre consists of 290 staff members for security and administration, 16 interns, six social workers, three vocational staff, one religious staff, five educationists, two for Information Technology and five nurses.

 

Due to inmate population growth, an increase of staff is required.  A request to consider the centre as a maximum with regard to staff, was submitted to the Regional office for consideration.  To justify the increase in the number of staff required, it was important to re-classify some components of the centre into maximum, because Ebongweni is the only maximum classified structure in the province.

Currently, in order to beef up staff, centres need to go through a process of being allocated a maximum status first.

 

Health Management:

 

Centre has been accredited as an ARV site, and offenders are encouraged to do voluntary testing on HIV.  Centre has a modern hospital and facilities to cater for full blown Aids detainees and inmates transferred from other centres in the Management Area.

The hospital facility also begins to be overcrowded due to an increase in the number of affected offenders, and the utilization of the centre by the public for treatment.

 

 

Security:

 

The Empangeni Management Area is the most challenged area in terms of security.  Several attempts of walk-ins, forced access/occupations and many other incidents took place.

The ratio of members physically guarding offenders is at 1:20 during the week and 1:40 on weekends, taking into account leave applications during this time.  Also, staff is allocation is based on official allocations, not considering overcrowding.  Each unit is allocated staff members to escort offenders.

During 2006/07, till to date, the following incidents were reported:

 

  • Attempt escapes – 6
  • Attempt fire-arm smuggling – 2
  • Attempt fire arms stolen – 1
  • Attempt break-ins into centre – 4
  • Taxi related shootings and incidents – 2
  • Escapes -

 

Status of CMC and Parole Board:

 

Two committees are serving Qalakabusha and three more centres.

The Parole Board has placed about 211 offenders on parole.  Only one post of a community member is vacant.

 

Challenges and constraints of Qalakabusha:

 

  • The capacity at the centre is not suitable for high risk and maximum detainees and offenders.  This creates an uneven distribution of the offender population.
  • About 70% of offenders at the centre serve long sentences, which places them in a high risk group with more accommodation needs.
  • The process to upgrade facilities is very slow.
  • Courts to be served are located at remote areas, which pose a security risk to staff.

 

 

PRESENTATION ON THE PIETERMARITZBURG CORRECTIONAL CENTRE – (PIETERMARITZBURG MANAGEMENT AREA), MS TY NGCOBO

 

Classification of the centre:

 

Medium A is an admission centre, which also accommodates maximum and medium sentenced offenders, as well as ATD’s.

The total lock-up of offenders is 2497.

 

Administration:

 

The number of posts filled is 324 and the vacant posts are 20.

The shortage of personnel, especially at managerial level, affects the monitoring of offenders.  The lack of required knowledge and skills by staff calls for training and professional guidance and support.

 

Capacity of the centre:

 

Lock-up capacity (sentenced adults) – 1027

Awaiting Trial Detainees (adults) - 1074

Sentenced juveniles – 113

Awaiting trial juveniles – 249

Sentenced children – 13

Awaiting trial children - 27

 

The approved lock-up at Medium A is 1330 and the current lock-up is 2497, an overcrowding percentage of 187,74%.

 

Strategies to address overcrowding:

 

  • Application for conversion of sentences of imprisonment into correctional supervision.  The total number of applications submitted to court is 40, successful applications are 18, unsuccessful applications are 3 and there are 19 outstanding applications.
  • Attend meetings with other stakeholders in the criminal justice system: the SAPS and Justice departments.
  • Networking with Attorneys, Prosecutors, Magistrates, and the Legal Aid Board to assist in alleviating overcrowding.
  • Creating an understanding with stakeholders on the impact of sentencing offenders with fines of less than R300 to correctional services and the use of alternative sentences.
  • Finding alternative detention centres for Awaiting Trial juveniles under 18 years, in consultation with the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
  • Liaising with the Department of Home Affairs regarding the housing of illegal immigrants awaiting deportation.

 

Strategies to improve offender participation in development programmes:

 

  • In developing programmes, most need to be more practical than theoretical, due to large number illiterate offenders.
  • Short courses need to offered, in order to benefit offenders who want to be utilized in span duties.
  • Marketing of development programmes to offenders.
  • Production workshops visit units on a quarterly basis to market their programmes.
  • Motivation of offenders to take part in these programmes.

 

Development programmes offered:

 

The Department of Labour offers skills training courses to offenders. The number of offenders taking part is as follows:

 

TV and radio repairs – 7 offenders

Upholstery – 12 offenders

Baking – 10 offenders

Textile – 14 offenders

Wood workshop – 12 offenders

Welding - 14 offenders

 

The textile section produces at 68%, the wood section at 88% and the steel section at 30%.

 

PRESENTATION ON THE STATISTICS OF THE PAROLE BOARD – PIETERMARITZBURG

 

Number of offenders considered for parole – 1368

Number of offenders released on parole – 856

Number of offenders release on medical parole – 2

Number of offenders granted correctional supervision by court – 18

Number of offenders released on Sentenced Expiry Date (SED) – 20

 

The Pietermaritzburg Community Corrections Centre has 545 parolees, 376 probationers and no absconders.

 

PRESENTATION ON DURBAN WESTVILLE CORRECTIONAL CENTRE BY AREA COMMISSIONER MONAMA

 

Durban Medium B has an approved lock-up of 2137, but accommodates 3740 offenders, therefore standing at 212% overcrowded.

This is one of the centres with a production workshop. 

 

In terms of health care services, the centre also has an in-patient 24-hour hospital facility, where offenders and ATD’s are admitted.  There are 104 beds in the hospital.  The hospital also serves sick offenders transferred from Port Shepstone centre.

15 nurses render health care services and one post of a medical practitioner is vacant.  The centre is an accredited ARV site.  168 offenders are on ARV treatment, of which 13 are female and 3 are youth.

 

A total budget of R59 million is allocated to the centre to administer health, with no extra provision for the treatment of HIV offenders.

It was reported that about R80 000 has been allocated for awareness on HIV programmes.  ARV treatment is still obtained from the Department of Health.

A dietician visits the centre on a weekly-basis to advice on the diet plan of HIV positive offenders. 

It costs the department about 4,5 million to cater for this plan.  Staff is under enormous pressure to administer HIV offenders.

 

Nurses see approximately 90 patients per day and the dietician sees 20 patients per visit.  Services of a psychiatrist and optician are offered on a monthly basis.

Nine offenders released or placed on parole due to medical reasons and 39 died (natural) whilst in custody as at July 2007.

 

Challenges on health care:

 

  • Increase in the number of sick offenders, versus the shortage of nursing staff.  The staffing norm does not cater for the additional burden on health workers.
  • The ARV treatment is too labour intensive, considering the limited capacity and the lack of designated persons within the department for the anti-retroviral treatment programme.
  • Health care appointments with external service providers are not always honoured.
  • No provision is made for sick offenders who want to utilize traditional healers while in custody.

 

WESTVILLE YOUTH CENTRE:

 

In the same precinct, the Westville Youth Centre is located, to cater for children awaiting trial (CAT), between the ages 15 -17 years, youth in conflict with law and those awaiting their sentences.  Female youth awaiting trial are detained within the larger female prison.  Services at the centre are rendered in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Population Development, the main custodian being the DCS.

About 80% spend 2 weeks in detention.  Currently, there are six cases in excess of 6 months, which is the longest period cases are dealt with.  Their offences range from housebreaking, theft and the majority is for robbery.  Most robberies are cell phone related.

Cases of non-payment of bail of between R800 – R4000 are also detained in the centre.

One social worker is permanently based at the centre.

 

Profiles as at July 2007:

 

Number of youth assessed:  199

Number of absconders:  0

Number of youth released:  185

Number locked-up:  252

 

PRESENTATION ON THE PAROLE BOARD – DURBAN WESTVILLE

 

In performing their functions, the parole board finds it very difficult to decide when:

 

  • Magistrate sentence remarks are unavailable
  • Investigating officer’s report is unavailable
  • Records of previous convictions are unavailable
  • The lack of knowledge by Chairpersons of board on CMC, Social re-integration, day parole centres, etc, which leads to inconsistency when making decisions.

 

Statistics on placements, as at 30 June 2007:

 

Parole granted – 242

Correctional supervision granted – 57

Further profile – 130

Profiles submitted – 1 033

 

 

MEETING WITH STAFF AT THE KWAZULU-NATAL REGION:

 

 In all interactions with staff, it was clear that most challenges facing them need to be dealt with at national level.

 

The following is a summary of the concerns raised:

 

  • The non-compliance with policies which is caused by lack of support from Head office and the introduction of too many standing orders cause unnecessary frustrations to staff.
  • The review of salaries of all staff and promotion policies and the delayed payment of staff performance bonuses which impacts on the productivity of the staff.
  • The training provided to managers should not only focus on disciplinary measures, but should cover all other relevant aspects of management.
  • The completion of learnership programmes by new recruits and the delays on the accreditation in order to qualify as full Correctional Officers.
  • Staff has to deal with mentally ill offenders without any professional training in the field.
  • Due to problems of overcrowding, the life of officers is at risk and members are almost tempted to compromise security.
  • A grievance on racism was lodged by Devon staff to the Area Manager’s office and no feedback was received.
  • The use of unbecoming and inappropriate language, especially to Procurement staff at Devon.
  • To solve the problems of staff shortages, new staff members should be allowed to work during weekends.
  •  

 

E.         COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

 

Ebongweni Closed Maximum:

 

1)       Members expressed great concern on the underutilization of the Ebongweni centre, especially when overcrowding is a major challenge in prisons.  The Committee is mindful of the fact that the centre was built out of necessity, but somehow planning was not done thoroughly. The Committee therefore recommends urgent intervention be done for optimum utilization of the centre and to assist in current problems of overcrowding.

2)       The Committee believes that Ebongweni is a model centre and that some offenders at C-Max prison could be transferred to this centre due to the maximum security provided.

3)       The Committee is also of the view that a joint venture with the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry would assist in the problem of water shortages and the maximum utilization of the facility.

4)       For the effective functioning of the Parole Boards, assessments of offenders need to be done by senior officials in the Justice Cluster, even before they are sentenced, to avoid overcrowding.

5)       In the light of escapes taking place and the implication of officials in such, the Committee recommends that all officials need to be vetted and this process should start from recruitment.

6)       The exposure of television sets and cell phones to offenders poses a security risk. The Committee recommends that the DCS reviews offender privileges and that offenders need to earn these. 

7)       The Committee also requires the Minister to arrange feedback on the accommodation that is planned for the staff of Ebongweni in order to minimize the risks they are exposed to.

8)       To avoid escapes by the hardened criminals housed at the centre, the Committee recommends in-house Courts.

9)       The Committee has observed that due to staff shortages, students, who are not yet accredited officers, are utilized fully at the centres and this poses a high risk on them.  The Committee is also of the view that it is very crucial that highly skilled personnel operate in these centres because they prepare offenders for integration into society. The Committee therefore recommends an urgent intervention in order to accredit the students as Correctional Officers as soon as they complete basic training.

10)   The Department would have to be more proactive in informing the Committee of the challenges it faced. The Committee should not be left to stumble across challenges when they went on oversight visits as was the case at this facility.

11)   The Committee will invite the DPW, DWAF as well as the DCS to a joint visit to discuss the water shortages and maintenance challenges in the Kokstad Management Area.

 

Port Shepstone Correctional Centre:

 

1)       An area of great concern to the Committee is that of the condition of the Port Shepstone centre.  The Committee recommended that the Regional Management provides a plan to turn the situation around and this plan be presented before the Committee within 90 days.

2)       It was clear from the interaction with the Parole Board that a problem still exists with regard to the responsibility of the Justice Cluster.  The Committee recommends that interactions with the three Ministers, namely, Correctional Services, Safety and Security and Justice take place as a matter of urgency in order clarify their roles in the parole boards and to accelerate the pace of cases before the CSPB.

3)       The Committee is also very much concerned about the condition of accommodation for staff.

4)       Of great concern to the committee in the under-utilisation of Community Corrections Centre where more people could be placed to curb overcrowding.  The Committee also recommends that the DCS, in its budget allocations, consider investing more funds in these centres.

 

Qalakabusha Correctional Centre:

 

1)       The Committee recommends that a thorough investigation on the escapes be undertaken and that a report on the progress be presented to the committee within 90 days. 

2)       The Committee is of the view that the ratio of staff to offenders poses a risk, which might result in further escapes.  The Committee therefore recommends that, in order to minimize the problem, maximum offenders need to be transferred to Ebongweni.

3)       The Committee is also of the view that the problem of staff shortage needs to be reviewed to prevent further escapes.

 

 

Pietermaritzburg Medium A Correctional Centre:

 

1)       The Committee is impressed with the work being done at the production workshops, and therefore calls for an intense marketing strategy of programmes offered to offenders.  This will assist offenders in starting their own businesses after release.

2)       In an attempt to alleviate the problem of overcrowding in prison and to reduce the number of awaiting trial detainees, the department should look at establishing a structure where senior members of the justice cluster take part and meet to discuss ways to reduce numbers of prison sentences.  In this forum, alternatives for payment of bail fines could also be discussed. The building of the seven outstanding facilities will be discussed with the National Commissioner, as these would play a vital role in addressing the chronic overcrowding in many of the correctional facilities.

3)       The committee is concerned about the image of correctional officials.  The committee, in its interaction with staff, observed that the morale is low amongst staff members.  The Committee therefore recommends that on-going debates and an overall effort need to be encouraged to deal with these matters.

 

Durban Westville Correctional Centre:

 

1)       The Committee noted that the challenges within the department require a collective effort.  The Committee will initiate a meeting with the Justice cluster in Parliament to engage in further discussions on the challenges.

2)       The Committee also commended the management of the centre for the progress made since the committee’s last visit to the centre.

3)       The inexplicably high bail amounts being set for children as well as the absence of social workers were of particular concern. A small joint Justice and Correctional Services parliamentary delegation should perhaps visit the facility to investigate the matter further.