Date: 01/06/2004
Source: Ministry of Correctional Services
Title: N Balfour: Workshop for Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services
WELCOME ADDRESS BY THE MINISTER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR BMN BALFOUR, MP, AT THE WORKSHOP HOSTED BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, 1 June 2004
Programme Director
Deputy Minister, Ms Cheryl Gillwald
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, Mr Modisenyane
Members of the Portfolio Committee
Commissioner Linda Mti
Officials
Ladies and Gentlemen
On behalf of the Ministry and the Department of Correctional Services, allow me to extend a warm welcome to each one of you. It is extremely heartening to me that honourable members have deemed it appropriate that we should be engaging each other at this level.
In the short space of time that I have been in this portfolio, I have noted a sense of urgency about various stakeholders wanting to get down to the serious business for which we have been elected to public office. From the time of the announcement of my appointment and that of our Deputy Minister, Ms Cheryl Gillwald, there has been a frenzy of activity, giving us little time to even settle into office.
I am sure that I speak for both Ms Gillwald and myself when I say that we would have wanted it no other way. We are most overwhelmed by the messages of support that we have received and we want to assure you that once the Correctional Services train gains momentum, there will be no holding back.
Whilst we have been entrusted by President Thabo Mbeki with political and executive authority for Correctional Services, you add to this chain with your legislative weight derived from our country's Constitution. I am immensely pleased that you are part of this team. Your respective political parties have displayed the confidence in you to bring value and essence to Correctional Services.
Some of you have served on this Portfolio Committee in the past and we would be able to call on your experience and expertise that you have acquired. Others are new to the Committee and still others are new to Parliament. Collectively, we are all on a major learning curve, more so, given the fact that a new White Paper has just been adopted and it will be our responsibility to give effect to this policy document.
This workshop presents us with an opportunity outside of the parliamentary building to get to grips with the core business of Correctional Services. A programme has been devised that will touch virtually every aspect of the business of our department. It will assist us in understanding the Strategic Plans of the Department and hopefully it will create an avenue for discussion, debate, inputs and advice that will add to the Vision of the Department, that is, to be one of the best in the world in delivering correctional services with integrity and commitment to excellence.
I am hoping that this will be two days of lively interaction where we unpack issues, where we focus on our Vision and our Mission and where we give credence to our commitment to deliver on our promises, undertakings and responsibilities to the people who have put us in office, that is, the electorate.
I have had the privilege of five years of excellent working relationships with the previous Portfolio Committee that served with me. I have noticed that at least one of those Members are now also on this Committee.
There was mutual respect despite our political differences. There was acknowledgement of the value that each Member brought. We differed, sometimes vehemently, but this was never at the expense of our prime function. I would want to believe that we could have such a relationship within Correctional Services.
I am declaring my commitment and my willingness to work in the interests of those who we serve, traversing party lines but yet without compromising my party or its principles. I would expect that Members of opposition parties would realistically do the same. I am, however, calling on you to join the Deputy Minister and myself in forging a relationship that will make this Portfolio Committee the structure that Parliament envisaged it to be.
Your oversight role is crucial. Your position as watchdog on behalf of the public is not in dispute. Your legislative responsibilities are paramount. Your right to promote and advance the cause of your party should not be compromised. But when we take stock of the outcomes that we want to achieve, this should not be clouded by narrow interests that could result in the committee driving itself into a state of paralysis.
If such a situation should arise, I will continue with my responsibilities entrusted to me by the President and if this then results in possible conflict, I would choose to err on the side of the people who expect me to deliver correctional services that will contribute to a better life for all South Africans.
I am sure that we can create a working environment that will accommodate diverse views; that will be tolerant of differences and that will assist the Commissioner and our Department in delivering on our mandate.
During my time in office, I have already met a diverse group of stakeholders. The Deputy Minister and I have met with the senior management of the Department on various occasions. We have met with Regional Commissioners, officials responsible for the Budget and with those at the cutting edge of delivery.
I have visited two regions, that is, the Western Cape and Gauteng and addressed management and members in both regions. I have also paid visits to the Managements Areas of Pollsmoor, Goodwood and Pretoria. I will soon be going to the Eastern Cape Region and will visit all regions as soon as my programme allows for it.
Useful discussions have also been held with Judge Jali and I will address the Jali Commission in my Budget Vote on 15 June. The 11 Interim Reports of the Commission have given me a useful insight into their work. I have also met the Visiting Judge and meetings are scheduled with the National Council for Correctional Services, the Law Society of South Africa and Trade Unions active within Correctional Services. I will be meeting with POPCRU later this week. Our role within the JCPS Cluster will also go a long way towards addressing issues that are common and which impact on our core business in Correctional Services.
With the White Paper now finalised, the major challenge is to give practical effect to it. This is a living document and will only be the dynamic tool that it is envisaged to be if it is implemented in a manner that will achieve its desired outcomes. It is a document that must reach every member of the 35 000 within Correctional Services. It must be owned by us. It must be the blueprint that will, as stated in our Mission Statement, place rehabilitation at the centre of all Departmental activities in partnerships with external stakeholders.
Make no mistake; the challenges within Correctional Services are enormous. We are very aware of our shortcomings but we are also mindful of our strengths. The Department wants to engage you at all levels. We want a partnership that will jointly tackle the challenges that we face. We want the political guidance that you can provide and we want you to become an integral part of the Correctional Services family.
We urge you to put issues on the table that will test our capacity, that will broaden our vision and that will facilitate the achievement of our goals. The Commissioner will hereafter be outlining the Programme for the two days. Through our presentations and discussions, you will be exposed to the heart of Correctional Services. May our discussions broaden our understanding of Correctional Services and contribute towards a Portfolio Committee and Department that are not only partners in delivery but also allies in contributing to a new beginning for offenders once they are reintegrated into their families and communities.
We owe it to those placed in our care and our law-abiding society to place rehabilitation at the forefront of our work. Let this be the beginning of a term of office, at the end of which we can deservedly and boldly state that we have delivered in line with our mandate.
I thank you and wish you well in your deliberations.
Issued by: Minister of Correctional Services
1 June 2004
Source: Ministry of Correctional Services
Title: N Balfour: Workshop for Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services
WELCOME ADDRESS BY THE MINISTER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR BMN BALFOUR, MP, AT THE WORKSHOP HOSTED BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, 1 June 2004
Programme Director
Deputy Minister, Ms Cheryl Gillwald
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, Mr Modisenyane
Members of the Portfolio Committee
Commissioner Linda Mti
Officials
Ladies and Gentlemen
On behalf of the Ministry and the Department of Correctional Services, allow me to extend a warm welcome to each one of you. It is extremely heartening to me that honourable members have deemed it appropriate that we should be engaging each other at this level.
In the short space of time that I have been in this portfolio, I have noted a sense of urgency about various stakeholders wanting to get down to the serious business for which we have been elected to public office. From the time of the announcement of my appointment and that of our Deputy Minister, Ms Cheryl Gillwald, there has been a frenzy of activity, giving us little time to even settle into office.
I am sure that I speak for both Ms Gillwald and myself when I say that we would have wanted it no other way. We are most overwhelmed by the messages of support that we have received and we want to assure you that once the Correctional Services train gains momentum, there will be no holding back.
Whilst we have been entrusted by President Thabo Mbeki with political and executive authority for Correctional Services, you add to this chain with your legislative weight derived from our country's Constitution. I am immensely pleased that you are part of this team. Your respective political parties have displayed the confidence in you to bring value and essence to Correctional Services.
Some of you have served on this Portfolio Committee in the past and we would be able to call on your experience and expertise that you have acquired. Others are new to the Committee and still others are new to Parliament. Collectively, we are all on a major learning curve, more so, given the fact that a new White Paper has just been adopted and it will be our responsibility to give effect to this policy document.
This workshop presents us with an opportunity outside of the parliamentary building to get to grips with the core business of Correctional Services. A programme has been devised that will touch virtually every aspect of the business of our department. It will assist us in understanding the Strategic Plans of the Department and hopefully it will create an avenue for discussion, debate, inputs and advice that will add to the Vision of the Department, that is, to be one of the best in the world in delivering correctional services with integrity and commitment to excellence.
I am hoping that this will be two days of lively interaction where we unpack issues, where we focus on our Vision and our Mission and where we give credence to our commitment to deliver on our promises, undertakings and responsibilities to the people who have put us in office, that is, the electorate.
I have had the privilege of five years of excellent working relationships with the previous Portfolio Committee that served with me. I have noticed that at least one of those Members are now also on this Committee.
There was mutual respect despite our political differences. There was acknowledgement of the value that each Member brought. We differed, sometimes vehemently, but this was never at the expense of our prime function. I would want to believe that we could have such a relationship within Correctional Services.
I am declaring my commitment and my willingness to work in the interests of those who we serve, traversing party lines but yet without compromising my party or its principles. I would expect that Members of opposition parties would realistically do the same. I am, however, calling on you to join the Deputy Minister and myself in forging a relationship that will make this Portfolio Committee the structure that Parliament envisaged it to be.
Your oversight role is crucial. Your position as watchdog on behalf of the public is not in dispute. Your legislative responsibilities are paramount. Your right to promote and advance the cause of your party should not be compromised. But when we take stock of the outcomes that we want to achieve, this should not be clouded by narrow interests that could result in the committee driving itself into a state of paralysis.
If such a situation should arise, I will continue with my responsibilities entrusted to me by the President and if this then results in possible conflict, I would choose to err on the side of the people who expect me to deliver correctional services that will contribute to a better life for all South Africans.
I am sure that we can create a working environment that will accommodate diverse views; that will be tolerant of differences and that will assist the Commissioner and our Department in delivering on our mandate.
During my time in office, I have already met a diverse group of stakeholders. The Deputy Minister and I have met with the senior management of the Department on various occasions. We have met with Regional Commissioners, officials responsible for the Budget and with those at the cutting edge of delivery.
I have visited two regions, that is, the Western Cape and Gauteng and addressed management and members in both regions. I have also paid visits to the Managements Areas of Pollsmoor, Goodwood and Pretoria. I will soon be going to the Eastern Cape Region and will visit all regions as soon as my programme allows for it.
Useful discussions have also been held with Judge Jali and I will address the Jali Commission in my Budget Vote on 15 June. The 11 Interim Reports of the Commission have given me a useful insight into their work. I have also met the Visiting Judge and meetings are scheduled with the National Council for Correctional Services, the Law Society of South Africa and Trade Unions active within Correctional Services. I will be meeting with POPCRU later this week. Our role within the JCPS Cluster will also go a long way towards addressing issues that are common and which impact on our core business in Correctional Services.
With the White Paper now finalised, the major challenge is to give practical effect to it. This is a living document and will only be the dynamic tool that it is envisaged to be if it is implemented in a manner that will achieve its desired outcomes. It is a document that must reach every member of the 35 000 within Correctional Services. It must be owned by us. It must be the blueprint that will, as stated in our Mission Statement, place rehabilitation at the centre of all Departmental activities in partnerships with external stakeholders.
Make no mistake; the challenges within Correctional Services are enormous. We are very aware of our shortcomings but we are also mindful of our strengths. The Department wants to engage you at all levels. We want a partnership that will jointly tackle the challenges that we face. We want the political guidance that you can provide and we want you to become an integral part of the Correctional Services family.
We urge you to put issues on the table that will test our capacity, that will broaden our vision and that will facilitate the achievement of our goals. The Commissioner will hereafter be outlining the Programme for the two days. Through our presentations and discussions, you will be exposed to the heart of Correctional Services. May our discussions broaden our understanding of Correctional Services and contribute towards a Portfolio Committee and Department that are not only partners in delivery but also allies in contributing to a new beginning for offenders once they are reintegrated into their families and communities.
We owe it to those placed in our care and our law-abiding society to place rehabilitation at the forefront of our work. Let this be the beginning of a term of office, at the end of which we can deservedly and boldly state that we have delivered in line with our mandate.
I thank you and wish you well in your deliberations.
Issued by: Minister of Correctional Services
1 June 2004
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