Date: 27/08/2004
Source: Ministry of Correctional Services
Title: N Balfour: Worcester Correctional Centre


ADDRESS BY THE MINISTER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, BMN BALFOUR, MP, TO MEMBERS DURING A VISIT TO WORCESTER CORRECTIONAL CENTRE, 27 August 2004

Programme Director
Commissioner Linda Mti
Deputy Regional Commissioner Sinclair
Area Commissioner Dumbela
Head of Prisons
Management and Members

Baie dankie vir u bereidwilligheid om my te ontvang en die gasvryheid wat ek hier geniet. Worcester was altyd een van die plekke wat sterk gestaan het gedurende tye van politieke stryd en daar is seuns en dogters van Worcester wat 'n groot bydra tot ons politieke vryheid gemaak het. Ons moet hulle eer and altyd probeer om in hul voetspore te volg.

Ek verstaan dat ons ook lede in ons midde van Ceres, Wolseley en Robertson het. Baie dankie dat u gekom het. Ek hoop dat dit 'n teken is van hoe belangrik jy jou rol binne Korrektiewe Dienste sien.

Ek het die geleentheid gehad om met jul bestuur te ontmoet. Ek was ook vroeg vanmore op Drakenstein. Daar is 'n baie eenvoudige boodskap wat ek vandag wil oordra. Dis een dat ek omgee vir die lede van Korrektiwe Dienste en deur jul optredes, hoop ek dat my posisie sal versterk word in die onderhandelinge waarmee ek tans besig is met Kabinet en die Minister van Finansies.

The past week has been a challenging one for Correctional Services. There were a number of issues that put us in the spotlight. Unfortunately, not for very good reasons.

There is a perception amongst the public that only negative news comes from our correctional centres. There are issues such as escapes, corruption, collusion with inmates, poor administration, industrial action, poor work attendance and poor work ethic that tend to dominate and the good work that you do, never gets any exposure.

It is obvious that there is much good work taking place in the facilities where you are based. Quite often this is never appreciated or even acknowledged. It probably makes many of you frustrated people. You look at your working conditions, you consider your monthly salary. You think about the stresses that go with dealing with inmates. And you probably say to yourself why should I be going the extra mile if I am not appreciated?

Why should I put myself at risk? Why should I not take bribes from inmates? Why should I not abscond from work? Why should I not just laze at the gate and forget about searching anyone? Why should I be nice to the public visiting inmates? Why should I bother to answer the phone? Why should I not have a drink on the job and why should I not run away early on a Friday?

Niemand waardeer my nie, so ek sal maar doen soos ek wil. But can you imagine if everyone of us should take that attitude, all of us would be without a job soon!

I want to address the matter of attitudes and mindsets. Ek wil houdings hier aanspreek.

I have learnt over the years that you get out of a situation what you put into it. In Correctional Services, we do not earn salaries similar to that of members of SAPS. Even the traffic force earns better salaries. It is a matter that I have put on the top of my agenda during my term of office. I believe our members must be better remunerated so that they can be encouraged to deliver better services.

But you are faced with a double-edged sword. You get what you deserve, I said earlier. At the moment, the perception is that our members get what they deserve. This is a perception. It is not necessarily the truth or fact. But perceptions are strong and it is made stronger by our actions that are seen in public.

Let us admit to ourselves that we are not held in high esteem. We have thousands of good men and good women who work tirelessly at their jobs. They show commitment and there are many amongst you who do likewise.

But it is the actions of a few that tarnish all of us. How can we change that? How can you as an individual member change that? How can we show pride in our work and start gaining the support of the public? South Africans must be proud of us but they are not. South Africans must respect us but they do not.

Who is to blame for that? Is it us? Is it the government? Is it management? Is it the inmates? Is there a combination of factors?

I want to suggest that earning respect starts with each of us. Jy koop nie respek by 'n winkel nie. Dit kom nie in pakkies nie. Jy verdien dit deur jou optredes.

As jou optredes negatief ervaar word, toon mense geen respek vir jou nie. Dit is die ongelukkige waarheid dat die optredes van baie van ons negatief ervaar word.

As a member of Correctional Services, you need to sit down and ask yourself whether you contribute towards the negativity towards us. You might even deny it to yourself and try to justify your actions. You might argue that your manager does not work, so why should you. You might argue that your colleague ran home early last week, so it is your turn this week. You might reason that you will take sick leave in the week, recover Friday and do overtime the weekend. You might use the state vehicle to go shopping or even go to a shebeen. You might ignore orders and instructions. You might be on the payroll of an inmate or whatever.

All negative things that make you less of a person. There is no pride in such people. There is no honesty. No humility. No self-respect.

I am calling on you to help me and the Commissioner in order to help you. Give us reason to fight for a better deal for you. Give us the weapons to challenges your working conditions. Give us the ammunition to fight overcrowding. Give us the confidence that we can depend on your support.

Let us reach out to each other and say that we are part of a team. If you do not want that or if you believe that I cannot contribute towards ensuring a better life for you, then you must say so.

There is a time in the life of every person when we must stand up for what we believe. We must take our lives in our own hands. Many of us are parents. Surely, we do not want our children to have the impression that we cannot care for them. Surely, we do not want our children to be ashamed of calling us mom and dad in public. Surely, we want our children to be proud of us.

This is the place where you earn your living. This is the place where you are likely to be for the rest of your working life. This is the place that becomes your second home. Do not mess it up for yourself. Make it a better place to live and work. Make it a proud home. Make Correctional services a proud institution and let Correctional Services be proud of you.

I thank you.

Issued by: Ministry of Correctional Services
27 August 2004