Date: 15/04/2005
Source: Department of Correctional Services
Title: Balfour: Annual Regional Achievers’ Awards of the Western Cape


Address by the Minister of Correctional Services, Mr BMN Balfour, MP, at the Annual Regional Achievers’ Awards of the Western Cape, President Hotel, Cape Town

Programme Director
Rev Fry and Imam Ghatiep
Deputy Minister, Cheryl Gillwald
Regional Commissioner, Bongani Gxilishe
Members of the Adjudication Panel, Mrs du Toit, Chris Giffard, Stan Henkeman and Rev Clayton
Deputy Regional Commissioner, Area Commissioners, Head of Correctional Centres,
Members of Management
Members of Correctional Services
Nominees for Awards
Invited Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

There is quite a bit of reasons for us to be celebrating this evening. As a department, we are now on course to pursue a new and dynamic direction in Correctional Services. We have had a promising start to the new financial year with our Budget Vote debate. We are here to acknowledge and celebrate achievements of excellence by colleagues and just generally to relax and unwind as we prepare for the months ahead of us.

But then, there is also a tinge of sadness and nostalgia, knowing that this is also the start of a process leading to us taking leave of one of our number, but more about that later on.

I am not going to spend too much time with the formalities as we have had quite a bit of it this week. At various times, I have said that one of my passions in life is my staff members in Correctional Services.

When I state this, I am really sincere about it. I care about those who have decided to make a career in Correctional Services. I value the expertise and commitment that you bring. I have understanding of the challenges that you face. I have empathy for your concerns, needs, desires and frustrations. We are a huge family. One that laughs together and even cries together.

I am the proverbial Head of that family with the Deputy Minister and Commissioner being alongside me. You and thousands of others are the family members who bring value and meaning to our lives.

It is therefore really an honour for me to be with you at a time that we recognise and applaud the achievements of some of us. The Western Cape has taken a commanding lead in bringing recognition to the work that is undertaken in our respective offices, correctional centres and community corrections centres. This is a great initiative because it relays a message of hope; of appreciation and of a desire to always do better.

My congratulations to the region for caring about our members. You are setting benchmarks that others should be emulating. Occasions such as this should be celebrated by and shared with everyone. It explodes the myth that correctional officials are dour, uncaring and without ambition.

Being a correctional official is a noble profession. It requires tenacity, faith, a strong will and a belief in the general good of man to be a correctional official. You are such people. You have chosen to work with a category of people that are frowned upon by society. When you became a correctional official you committed yourself to changing the lives of others for the good. Much like a doctor and nurse, you do the thankless tasks in society. You reach out with hope to those who believe there is no hope. You touch the lives of those who believe that society has rejected them because of their actions. You care for them despite the anger which society views them with.

For this, I am most grateful and I will continue declaring it to all that the role of correctional officials in our democracy is not appreciated and valued. Society must know that you bring safety where there can be danger; that you bring correction where there can be mayhem and that you bring peace where there can be destruction.

The uniform that you wear is a symbol of pride. The duty that you perform is an act of love. And the caring that you display is a sign of hope.

Every member should be honoured for the work that they do. Of course, we recognise, as in all walks of life, even in our ranks we have those who deviate from the norm. They are in the minority and will either fall in line with the rest of us or fall off from the radar and disappear.

And then, there are those who excel; who go beyond the call of duty; who shine like a glowing lamp. It is those people who we are honouring this evening.

I wish to congratulate all those who have been nominated in the various categories. It is a sign of confidence that others have in you. Let this be the stepping stone to even greater achievements. So much good happens in our centres. So much of what you do goes unheralded. Tonight, we want to celebrate with those who have been judged to be amongst the best in their various positions. Whether it be a management area, a correctional centre, a community corrections office or an individual correctional official, you are being recognised for the work that you perform.

Last year I said that the time has arrived for us to have a National Awards Ceremony. This is now overdue. I want to see our officials being honoured nationally for the excellent work done by so many.

I mentioned earlier that one of us will be leaving the ranks. By now you are aware that Regional Commissioner Gxilishe is due to take up another position in government. He is a true cadre of our country. He goes where the country needs him. He has served us well. He has led the Western Cape to being amongst the leaders in Correctional Services. Now he will take up the challenge of creating work opportunities for thousands of South Africans.

Bongani, as you go to Public Works to lead the Expanded Public Works Programme, know that you might have left some unfinished work behind but you go with our full support. You have provided outstanding leadership in the Western Cape. You have moulded a team of committed correctional officials and have mapped out a path that can only but lead us to achieving our goal of being amongst the best in the world.

Bongani has been a leading light in the drafting of the White Paper on Corrections. He worked tirelessly on putting the Centres of Excellence in place. He led the Joint Technical Team in negotiations with POPCRU. These were all national responsibilities in addition to his tasks as Regional Commissioner in the Western Cape and Acting Regional Commissioner of the Eastern Cape.

It takes a special kind of person to do so much. He is a true cadre of the people. It is not only a profession to him. It is a calling. And of course, he then has those other hidden talents. I believe that very soon he will complete a Masters degree at Stellenbosch University and I am told that he has learnt well from the struggle days; still capable of having an audience eating from his hands. Bongani has earned his stripes in the heat of struggle and in the unfolding of democracy. I salute him and wish him well in his new challenge.

We might have lost a great talent but those without work are the richer for his deployment to Public Works. It is wonderful that the first public announcement of his departure can be done at such an occasion.

The achievements of Bongani are the epitome of what this Awards Ceremony represents. It represents leadership, responsibility, commitment but also appreciation.

As we toast the Award winners, let us also raise a glass as we bid Bongani farewell. As our winners, you have served your country well. Together, you have made a difference in the lives of ordinary South Africans.

My best wishes to all those receiving awards and my appreciation to the adjudication panel who so willingly offer their time to work within Correctional Services. You are part of the family. A member might have decided to leave his home but he will be going to another house; a dwelling; not a home, because his place will always be reserved in the Correctional Services home.

While he is no prodigal son because he is not just wandering away; he must know that the family door is always open to him.

Do enjoy the rest of the evening and let us join in celebration with the Award winners, the other nominees and with our Regional Commissioner.

I thank you.

Issued by: Department of Correctional Services
15 April 2005