Issued by: Minister of Correctional Services
PRESS RELEASE BY THE MINISTER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DR SIPO MZIMELA
INSPECTING JUDGE FOR CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
CAPE TOWN : 8 MARCH 1996
I am pleased to announce that I will soon approach Cabinet on the appointment of an Inspecting Judge for the Department of Correctional Services.
The Department of Correctional Services, like many other prison systems in the world, is often criticised for a lack of transparency, ill-treatment of prisoners, unaccessibility to public scrutiny and various other irregularities. From various reports I have received in the past and also from numerous visits to prisons by myself, I came to the conclusion that an Inspecting Judge for Correctional Services is a necessity. The Independent Judge will be an independent and unbiased body who will investigate and report exclusively on Correctional matters.
I believe that the Inspecting Judge will not only serve the needs of inmates and staff but also that of the community at large.
The National Advisory Council on Correctional Services under the chairmanship of Judge Kumleben has indicated to me that they are in favour of this proposal.
I am convinced that the appointment of an independent Inspecting Judge for Correctional Services will go a long way in enhancing the transformation of the department and in ensuring the development of a healthy human rights culture in our South African prisons.
ENQUIRIES: BERT SLABBERT TEL: 021 - 4622314 8 March 1996