Date: 01/10/2004
Source: Ministry of Correctional Services
Title: N Balfour: Engcobo Correctional Centre


ADDRESS BY THE MINISTER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR N BALFOUR, MP, DURING A VISIT TO THE ENGCOBO CORRECTIONAL CENTRE, Eastern Cape, 01 October 2004

Commissioner Linda Mti
Deputy Regional Commissioner Ms Tseana
Head of the Engcobo Correctional Unit Mr Mncedane
Head of Corrections Mr Dywati
Management and Members of Engcobo

Engcobo is probably one of the smallest, if not the smallest Correctional Centre in the country. But this does not mean that Engcobo is any less-important than our other 240 Correctional Centres.

Given the relative small size of the Centre, its low complement of staff members and the low number of inmates, one would imagine that it would be a Correctional Centre that is easier to manage; that there would by much closer levels of cooperation and that it would be efficient and well-managed.

I am told that at the moment you number 113 inmates while your capacity is about 100. If this is correct, then you have no reason to complain about overcrowding. Yes, it might not be the ideal facility but in comparison to other centres, the numbers that you have to contend with are not relatively high. The recent renovations of the building have probably made it a bit more comfortable but you are obviously pressed for space in terms of facilities for inmates beyond the holding cells. These are challenges faced by most of our centres and while we would want to see workshops, recreation halls and classrooms here at Engcobo, we just do not have the financial resources to do everything at once.

Of course, it is a challenge to you as officials to make the best of the circumstances that you face and I want to encourage you to rise above complaining about what you do not have and rather channel your energies towards utilising what you do have to its maximum.

I am not here this morning to find fault with what happens here. I am not here to chastise you nor am I here to add to your feelings of disillusionment if it exists. But I am also not going to stand blind to some of the challenges and obstacles that I am aware of.

Let me be upfront with you. There appears to be a lack of commitment to the vision and mission of DCS. I am not certain if there is any pride or humility. I am not certain if some of you really want to be here or if you are merely here because it gives you a salary in some cases, and in other cases, it gives you the opportunity to do as you please. If that is the case, and I am not saying that it is necessarily so, then I and millions of other South Africans would have little respect for you. It would mean that we have employed the wrong people. It would mean that we are wasting taxpayer