Issued by: Ministry of Correctional Service
SENIOR PROMOTIONS - CAPE TOWN - 5 MARCH 1996
I am pleased to announce the promotion of the following members of the Department of Correctional Services to the positions as indicated:
1. Brigadier Enoch Mkatshwa to the rank of Major-general in the position of Provincial Commissioner for Mpumalanga.
2. Brigadier Pieter Ramashala to the rank of Major-general in the position of Provincial Commissioner of the Free State.
3. Brigadier Steven Korabie to the rank of Major-general in the position of Provincial Commissioner for the Western Cape.
4. Lieutenant-Colonel W Damons to the rank of Brigadier in the position of Commander of the Helderstroom Prison Command.
5. Major M P Sello to the rank of Brigadier in the position of Commander of the Zonderwater Prison Command.
6. Lieutenant-Col B T Nyembe to the rank of Colonel in the position of Commander of the Ncome Prison Command.
7. Captain H Davids to the rank of Colonel in the position of Commander of the Allandale Prison Command.
8. Sergeant Tshabalala to the rank of Lt-Col in the position of Assistant Director: Labour Relations (Head Office).
9. Mr S A Magwaza is also appointed to the rank of Lieutenant-Col in the position of Assistant Director Labour Relations (Head Office).
These appointments clearly demonstrate that I and my Department are fully committed to the transformation of the Department of Correctional Services.
On 15 February 1996 at a media briefing I stated that I am committed to implement the principles of meritorious representativeness. I went on to say that in the past, promotions in the Department of Correctional Services were based primarily on the principles undergirding apartheid. This resulted in a large number of experienced and competent people being left behind.
I am now changing this, I have already appointed two Black Generals on the level of Chief Deputy Commissioners. It is our aim to have a transformed Department of Correctional Services by the year 2000 on a 70/30 ratio of blacks against whites on all levels of the Department. In this regard I am advised by an independent committee, the Linda Human Committee on Representativity.
Let me also for the record provide you with other statistics to demonstrate the degree of transformation which has occurred in the Department of Correctional Services.
During 1995, a total of 1985 black warders were promoted to the rank of sergeant. This figure represents 87,55% of the under represented group.
A further 453 officers from the previously disadvantage groups were promoted to higher ranks.
I wish to stress that all the promoted officers and members complied with the standards of merit and efficiency.
I am also satisfied that the Department of Correctional Services is fully in line with the principles embodied in the construction and the government's state objective in terms of the national affirmative action policy.