Issued by: Ministry for Welfare & Population Development
In April 1996 the Cabinet requested the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Young People at Risk to investigate the availability and suitability of Places of Safety, Reform Schools and Schools of Industry for the accommodation of awaiting trial children.
As the chairperson of the IMC, following on our presentation of the Investigation Report to the Cabinet yesterday, I am pleased to present this statement and report to you this morning.
A SUMMARY OF THE INTER-MINISTERIAL COMMITTEES FINDINGS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
There is a serious lack of appropriately trained personnel and managers, as well as the problem of inappropriately appointed personnel and managers who might be causing harm to children, but who remain in the system.
The Cabinet accepted the recommendations and accompanying action plans which now stand as the government's set of solutions to the immediate crisis in the residential child and youth care system and the bridge to longer term transformation of this system.
THE CRITICAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO BE IMPLEMENTED IMMEDIATELY ARE THE FOLLOWING:
KwaZulu/Natal, Eastern Cape and Western Cape will be targeted as immediate priority areas for critical attention. The following strategies thus apply immediately and specifically to these three provinces.
1. COORDINATION OF THE MANAGEMENT OF AWAITING TRIAL CHILDREN LINKED TO THE NATIONAL CRIME PREVENTION STRATEGY.
The departments of Welfare, Education, Jutice, Correctional Services and SA Police Services will identify senior personnel to coordinate the management of children who come into conflict with the law, and will ensure the priority treatment of children awaiting trial. This initiative will be facilitated by the department of Welfare, and the personnel shall report to the Committee of Directors-General of the National Crime Prevention Strategy.
2. ASSESSMENT AND ACTION TO EXPEDITE MOVEMENT OF CHILDREN
The department of Welfare, in consultation with the Department of Education and Justice, shall initiate an immediate assessment of the status of children in Places of Safety and Children's Homes and act to expedite legal proceedings and eradicate blockages to placement.
3. ASSESSMENT AND RATIONALISATION OF RESIDENTIAL CARE SERVICES AND PLACEMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE.
A national inter-sectorial assessment of the system and a programme of action will be urgently established under the Ministry of Welfare for the rationalisation of all residential child care services, the appropriate placement of children, and the movement of children through the system.
4. ACTION TO UPGRADE QUALITY OF CARE IN FACILITIES
A programme of action will be initiated to immediately upgrade the quality of care in Places of Safety, Reform Schools and Schools of Industry. The programme shall include assessment and redeployment of staff, filling of vacant posts with appropriate staff, the training of staff with regard to relevant residential child and youth care practices, effective disciplinary procedures for staff, and the implementation of minimum standards of care to be provided by the I.M.C.
5. MONITORING OF THE SITUATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE AFFECTED BY CORRECTIONAL SERVICES AMENDMENT ACT 14/1996.
The established government/NGO monitoring committee on Section 29 initiated by the I.M.C. will be given priority support. This committee shall report monthly to the relevant departments.
THE SHORT TO MEDIUM-TERM RECOMMENDATIONS TO BE IMPLEMENTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ARE THE FOLLOWING:
1. APPROPRIATE PROGRAMMES AND ERADICATION OF ABUSE which include immediate abolition of physical punishment and the use of isolation, training of personnel to enable them to move from a "control and punishment" approach to more effective "developmental care and discipline" approach, and effective disciplinary action against staff who abuse children.
2. SECURE CARE
The inter-sectorial Secure Care programme of action which has been established under the IMC will continue to receive high priority support from the National Crime Prevention Strategy and the relevant Departments and Ministries.
3. STAFFING AND TRAINING
The appointment and/or redeployment of appropriate staff (at all levels) in Places of Safety, Schools of Industry and Reform Schools, as well as child and youth care training, is required.
4. YOUTH JUSTICE AND PROBATION SERVICES
Additional probation posts will be created as urgently as possible in areas where they are needed most, all probation officers will be appropriately trained, sufficient family finders will be employed in each province, and sufficient 24 hour reception and referral centres will be established as soon as possible.
5. MONITORING, ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSFORMATION
An interim monitoring group will be established under the national Ministry for Welfare to oversee the rationalisation process and monitor the effective completion of the most urgent programmes of action within the stipulated time frames.
6. DEVELOPMENT OF CAPACITY FOR DEPARTMENTS
An urgent capacity building programme will be established at national and provincial level to ensure the necessary child and youth care vision, leadership and competencies within the Departments of Welfare and Education.
A further recommendation made by the committee that the control and management of Schools of Industry, Reform Schools and Places of Safety be under one Ministry and Department, is still under consideration by the key Ministers (Welfare and Education).
Ms G J Fraser-Moleketi Minister for Welfare and Population Development
Contact person: Lesley du Toit, Manager, Inter-Ministerial Committee on Young People at Risk (012) 312 7555 or 0824502081
18 September 1996