Speech of Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour at the launch of a state of the art abattoir and a piggery at Middledrift Correctional Centre in Eastern Cape, as part of the Corrections Week

Mphathi Nkqubo
Kumkani yamaRharhabe
- Ah! Zanesizwe!
Sodolophu weNkonkobe Reverend Dumalisile Ngcuka
Mkhomishinala wezoluleko Nontsikelelo Jolingana nabalawuli bakho
Zidwangube nani zidwesha zakowethu

It is on days like this, when I feel absolutely confident that there is not just a will to accelerate the transformation of our department, but the necessary determination to bring to fruition the ideals of our correctional system.

Programme Director

Just about 16 months ago we were here at Middledrift to pronounce a turn around strategy for an institution that was a proverbial hot and rotten potato - the Middledrift Maximum Correctional Centre. For years this institution was characterised by a void in management which resulted in a leisez-faire environment that was inimical to a security establishment.

Mphathi Nkqubo. Ngokufutshane ndingathi bekukwa 'mpundu bhenqe eTrastini' kule Correctional Centre ebisaziwa njengeyoonqevu abangoncanyelweni, kodwa inguvula zibhuqe.

All the security basics of a normally functioning security establishment were flouted with impunity and incidents of undetected smuggling of illegal substances including firearms were high with the state of the art security system reduced to a White Elephant. The last straw was the escape of six dangerous offenders who were serving long term sentences for among others murder after some officials colluded with these heartless offenders to give them access to a firearm.

Following that incident we deployed a high-level investigation and management team which sought to get to the roots of these challenges. An audit was done and a turn around strategy was developed which included the re-classification of Middledrift from a maximum security facility to a medium security centre. Various institutional weaknesses were identified for focused interventions and we are still going strong in addressing them, thanks to the strong cadreship of management that has been brought into this institution.

I am delighted to declare that today's celebration represents the successes in the implementation of the turn around strategy adopted by the department with the following key elements:

* strengthening of management and re-affirmation of its prerogatives in ensuring discipline within a context of harmonised labour relations. Any remnants of unethical behaviour must be warned, change or ship out because you no longer have a place in Middledrift Correctional Centre now
* infrastructure improvements that made the facility more habitable for offenders
* improving systems and ensuring that security basics are observed without fear or favour
* enhancement of rehabilitation through increased productive engagement of offenders in areas like the abattoir, piggery, egg-laying and crop production projects. Today we are officially opening this facility and also handing it over today. I really appreciate the progress made in maximising productive engagement of offenders
* over 1 600 maximum category offenders were moved to appropriate facilities after reclassification of the centre leaving only 722 medium security offenders after rationalisation. This created a breathing space for enhanced rehabilitation, a step in the right direction.

The interventions made in this centre and other areas of Correctional Services throughout the country, have been increasingly aimed at meeting the new priority obligations set by Cabinet for Department of Correctional Services (DCS) as we move to 2009. They represent a holistic intervention that covers all key service delivery improvement programmes.

Infrastructure

Mphathi Nqubo, you would notice that the department has made strides in developing infrastructure for enabling rehabilitation and reintegration programmes. I can make mention of small infrastructural changes that were made to open up space for offender accommodation and to make it more humane. Importantly we are finalising the construction of parole board offices and offices for community corrections, which would allow room for more accommodation for rehabilitation programmes inside.

The infrastructural investment of R25 million in this abattoir and other agricultural projects which have been revitalized in this centre, means the department's ability to sustain the needs of the offenders has improved. Through-out this region we have six management areas whose usage of external abattoir and meat services can be estimated to R168 000 per month and escalate to about R2,1 million a year. Thus this investment of ensuring that we meet our meat and agricultural needs as centres of Correctional Service means we will be assisting the Department towards savings of about R2,1 million a year.

Seven Day Establishment

I have been reliably informed that this centre has met its quotas for recruiting entry-level personnel in preparation for the implementation of the Seven day establishment policy.

Currently, I am told, we are in the process of retraining managers and officials on unit management and implementation of ORP, whilst head office is assisting with the job refinement exercise for all establishments of the Department to ensure that the workforce is positioned to deliver on the key priorities of the department.

I have also been reliably informed Mphathi Nqubo that through these and other interventions like staff training, appropriate deployment and opportunities for opening diverse career paths for officials of the centre, the morale of the staff working in this centre has significantly improved. Uncumo nothakazelelo olufumana usangena emasangweni aliziko, bubungqina belithemba likhulayo kubasebenzi beliziko.

These developments may look largely inward focused but I am sure an effective functioning Middledrift Correctional Centre is held dearly in the hearts and minds of the surrounding communities for they are at the forefront of dealing with escapes and security breaches. Let us assure you that we will leave no stone unturned in turning this facility into one of the best in delivering correctional services with integrity and commitment to excellence in ensuring your safety and security.

Today we are also celebrating the emergence of ideal correctional managers and officials who will prove invaluable, not just to security considerations of the communities, but increasingly broader development challenges of the community. With reclassification of the facility the managers and officials have been able to increasingly find their niche role in mainstreaming correction and rehabilitation in broad societal development challenges like fighting poverty, improving community infrastructure and provision of life skills to communities.

Conclusion

Programme director I had referred to Middledrift as a 'hot and rotten potato,' but I am sure you all bear witness when I claim that that rotten potato has turned into a 'fresh sweet potato' we can all be proud of. Allow me Programme Director to handover this beautiful facility into our Regional Commissioner Nontsikelelo Jolingana. Sisi, we and all South Africans have justifiably high expectations from this facility. I trust that they will not be disappointed institution around, continue to be a guiding light in taking the transformation of our department to a higher level.

Our celebration of the Corrections Week Mphathi Nkqubo is about celebrating pockets of partnerships that we develop and harness in support of the implementation of the new approach to correctional management. Ndingaba ndiphosisile xa ndingenakubulela ngokungazenzisiyo kwii-Departments of Health, Agriculture ne-Public Works ngenkxaso engagungqiyo ekwakhiweni kale-abattoir kwanokunikelwa kwayo i-licence.

As we all must agree, this is not the end of the road, we still need the support of these partners in ensuring the successful operations of this facility through instituting adequate systems and capacity to run the abattoir and the agricultural projects of this centre.

We also are calling upon institutions of higher learning around this centre like Fort Hare University and Fort Cox Agricultural College to find ways of exploiting these facilities for agricultural research benefits and assisting DCS in upholding the required standards of these facilities.

Mawethu, when we capacitate offenders with rare skills like abattoir and piggery management, we aim to put them on a good footing for employment opportunities and economic viability when they are released. Fakani isandla ke mawethu, sibaweze, ilizwe lethu lifuna abanjalo.

Let us renew our pledge to build a national partnership to correct, rehabilitate and re-integrate offenders for a safer and a more secure South Africa. Through your solidarity and participation we can ensure that all people in particular women and children enjoy a great quality of life in South Africa.

I thank you

For enquiries contact:
Manelisi Wolela
Cell: 083 626 0304

Issued by: Department of Correctional Services
16 October 2007