Public Works Portfolio Committee: Joint Oversight Report of visits to Rustenburg, New Kimberly and Durban Westville Correctional Centres

Meeting report

Committee Programme
The Chairperson tabled the third term Committee Programme and asked Members to give their comments. He asked Members to note that the week of 20 September 2010 could possibly be announced as a constituency week.

Mr L Gaehler (UDM) suggested that the Department of Public Works (DPW) should be called to explain its overdraft budget for police rentals. In addition, he advised that the Committee should ask the Department to address the question of latent defects so that they could avoid spending money unnecessarily on renovations.

The Committee agreed to adopt the programme with the understanding that amendments could be made during the third term.

Report of Joint Oversight Visit to Rustenburg, New Kimberly and Durban Westville Correctional Centres
The Chairperson gave the floor to the Committee Researcher, Ms Stephanie Inez, to brief the Committee on the recommendations that Members made during the oversight visit.

Ms Inez noted that during the visits, Members had emphasised that specific requirements in the Government Immovable Asset Management Act (GIAMA) of 2007 had not been met. The Committee stressed that there was a need to take a closer look at immovable property registration and the maintenance of that property.

In Rustenburg, Members noted that correctional officers were not doing their jobs properly and that prison resources such as prison farms were not utilised by the Department of Correctional Services (DCS).

In Kimberly, Members observed that ill offenders were not hospitalised, rehabilitation programmes were not implemented and the Parole Board was not effective.

Mr C Kekane (ANC) wanted clarity on how the Committee separated overlapping duties of the DCS and DPW.

The Chairperson explained that Committee had to deal with certain matters concerning DCS without losing focus on its mandate.

Ms N Ngcengwane (ANC) stated that GIAMA was not implemented at the lower levels. She suggested that a meeting had to be organised with local and provincial Government to address the issue. She also suggested that DPW had to explain and clarify what the hindrances were in the implementation of GIAMA.

Mr Gaehler applauded the Chairperson for the tremendous job he was doing, especially in the last oversight visit and thanked the Committee staff for taking their jobs very seriously. He suggested that when the Chairperson introduced Members of the Committee, especially during oversight visits, he should not introduce them as Members of political parties, but as Members of the Portfolio Committee.

Mr T Magama (ANC) differed with Mr Gaehler on the matter of introducing Committee Members, as he believed that Members had to differ to enrich the country. He also suggested that the Committee review GIAMA.

The Chairperson encouraged Members to be pro-active concerning the maintenance of immovable property. The Committee could not allow other departments to shift the blame. He thanked Members for their dedication and hard work. He asked the Members to read the draft report beforehand so they were prepared for the joint meeting that would take place the following day with the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services.

The meeting was adjourned.