Issued by: The Parliament of the Republic of South Africa
The announcement by the Department of Correctional Services to the effect that it is committed to creating a working environment which is based on active support for the Constitutional principles of affirmative action, is warmly welcomed.
The Department of Correctional Services is currently faced with serious labour problems. This is primarily due to the fact that severe tensions have built up over many years due to the unrepresentativence of the Department's management structures, which is overwhelmingly white and male.
It is true that the Department of Correctional Services has inherited a terrible legacy from the apartheid era. However, since the changeover to a democratic government there had been a distinct failure to address these inequalities, or to develop clear policy guidelines with regards to affirmative action. Many of the strikes and other labour action that caused instability in the Department could be related to this situation, and the increasing frustation that was building up among the majority of members who are disadvantaged.
It is therefore welcomed that the Department of Correctional has decided to accept the main recommendations of the Forum for a Representative Corps, which was chaired by Professor Linda Human.
The Department's commitment to actively strive towards reaching a ratio of 70:30 in favour of the currently underrepresented groups in all post levels by the year 2000 should be strongly supported by all concerned. This target should be seen as the latest possible date, and any reasonable steps to speed up the process are strongly encouraged.
It is encouraging to note that the Departent is following up statements of intent with action, and that the nominations for the Candidate Officer's Course for the Functional Group for 1995 will represent a 70% ratio in favour of the under-represented groups.
This in conjunction with the intended promotion programme for warders and sergeants according to which 6 000 members will be promoted, will make a significant start to address the legacy of discrimination. The Public Service Commission is urged to approve the relevant recommendations without any delay.
It is, however, important that all the stakeholders that have participated in the Forum should be party to a transparent process of deciding about who should be nominated to go on the Candidate Officer's Course, and who will be taken into consideration for the promotion programme.
It is commendable that the Department of Correctional Services will be implementing specific educational-, training-, tution-, mentorship- and bridging programmes to facilitate the programme of affirmative action. In addition the Department is urgently in need of training programmes to change the attitudes of senior officers who have carried many outdated attitudes from the era of apartheid with them into the new South Africa. In this regard a process of continuing consultation with all stake holders, and close co-operation with the recently established Transformation Forum on Correctional Services, will be essential.
The monitoring of such a sensitive process is important, and it is commendable that the Department intends to establish Monitoring Committees to monitor itself. The Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services, and the Transformation Forum on Correctional Services will also provide a monitoring function - and on a constructive basis work with the Department in order to ensure the success of the Programme for Affirmative Action.
The positive results of this democratic and consultative process, which included all parties involved in the Departmental Bargaining Chamber, should set a standard for all future negotiations. In this regard the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services and the Transformation Forum on Correctional Services is likely to play an increasingly important role.
Encouraging as these first steps on the road to fundamental transformation in the Department of Correctional Services are, it must also be recognised much more will have to be done.
All those who are party to the agreement on the principles for the Programme of Affirmative Action are urged to continue a transparent process of consultation and negotiations in order to ensure that any possible problems can be resolved as speedily as possible. To create a Department of Correctional Services that is truly representative in all ranks/post levels is in the best interest of all concerned.
Issued by Mr Carl Niehaus, MP (Cellular phone number: 082-891-4071)
28 August 1995