Department of Correctional Services Budget; Inception of New Correctional Supervision & Parole Boards: briefing

Meeting report

SECURITY AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS SELECT COMMITTEE
14 May 2003
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES BUDGET; INCEPTION OF NEW CORRECTIONAL SUPERVISION & PAROLE BOARDS: BRIEFING

Chairperson: Kgoshi M L Mokoena (ANC) [Northern Province]

Documents handed out:
Estimates of National Expenditure, 2003-2006 presentation
Inception of New Correctional Supervision and Parole Boards presentation

SUMMARY
The Department of Correctional Services presented their national expenditure estimates for 2003-2006. The Department broke down the funding in terms of funding for programmes, funding for provinces, and funding for capital works projects. The discussion that followed focused on the training of personnel, the addressing of the overcrowding issue and the organisation of the APOPS programme.

The Department presented the new system for Correctional Supervision and Parole Boards, stressing the increase in community involvement. The Department explained that the new Correctional Supervision and Parole Boards (CSPB) would be decentralized and structured to include all of the stakeholders in the criminal justice system as well as community members. The discussion centered on the composition and function of the parole boards.

MINUTES
Estimates of National Expenditure, 2003-2006
Mr NW Tshivase: Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Department of Correctional Services presented the Department's national expenditure estimates for 2003-2006. The presentation focused on the Departmental programmes in support of AIM and the baseline funding for the Department. The Department presented a breakdown of funding for different programs and also the amount of funds allocated for each province. The Department designated funding for Capital Works Projects, including the building of four new prisons, the upgrading of prisons, repair and renovation of prisons, and creation of a new head office. The Department also identified cost drivers such as personnel and administration that determines the amount of funding. (Please see presentation attached)

Discussion
Mr B J Mkhaliphi (ANC) [Mpumalanga] asked why there was a provision in the budget for anti-corruption. He also asked when the Committee could expect the Asset Procurement and Operation Partnership System (APOPS) to achieve self-sufficiency. He asked what the ratio between personnel and inmates was. He commented on an army camp that was transformed into a prison and suggested that the Department look at other similar low cost alternatives.

Mr Tshivase answered that money has been designated for anti-corruption because a judge who had conducted a preliminary investigation into corruption issues within the Department had demanded further investigation. With regard to APOPS, the CFO responded that the APOPS contract is for 25 years and that sometime between June and October the contracts will be outsourced. The ratio of personnel to inmates was one to four throughout the prison system. He remarked that the Department has been visiting old military bases and evaluating their suitability for conversion to prisons. The Department must evaluate whether the cost of conversion would be equal to the cost of a new prison.

Ms E N Lubidla (ANC) [Northern Cape] asked whether private companies were going to build the new prisons. She asked if the time frame was from the time construction begins to the time when the prison is operational. Finally, she asked about the funding for probationers and parolees.

Mr Tshivase replied that private contractors were used to design and build the new prisons. Sites for the four new prisons have been selected in Leeuwkop, Klerksdorp, the Northern Cape, and Nigel. Concerning probationers and parolees, Mr Tshivase responded that since the Department did not pay to feed or clothe them, the money designated for parolees and probationers was mostly for their supervision.

An ANC member asked about the proportions of long term to short term prisoners, as well as the percentage of children in the prisons. She also inquired how the Department makes decisions on which facilities to repair and renovate.

Mr Tshivase replied that statistics were available for the percentage of prisoners serving long and short terms, but that the Department did not bring the information to the meeting. The Department would make those statistics available to the Committee.

Ms J L Kgoali (ANC) [Gauteng] asked about problems of overcrowding, especially in the North-West Province and asked if the rehabilitation programs are working.

Mr Tshivase responded that rehabilitation is the job of the Department of Correctional Services but the most effective method of rehabilitation comes from community support. The Department would have to find more ways to foster that support, which would be explained during the presentation on the new system of parole.

With regard to overcrowding, Mr Tshivase stated that the Department would not be able to build its way out of overcrowding. Overcrowding in prisons for 2002/2003 was 72%. It is estimated that the number would be close to 100% by 2004/2005. One of the major problems is that 70% of the prisons are over 50 years old and some are approaching an uninhabitable level.

Mr Tshivase identified prisoners awaiting trial as a main reason for the overcrowding. Without those prisoners in the system, the figures for overcrowding would be closer to five per cent. Improvements in the justice system that lead to a decrease in cycle time - the amount of time taken from first arrest to completion of trial - would help alleviate overcrowding problems.

Mr Mkhaliphi asked why the Department was spending nearly R500 million on the APOPS program. He was alarmed by this figure. He stated that a new calibre of officer was needed to help shift the Department's focus from incarceration to rehabilitation.

Mr Tshivase explained that the Department has a recruitment, training, and orientation program for new officers, but that it would take time to change the mindset of the officers towards rehabilitation.

Ms Kgoali agreed that the figures for APOPS were disconcerting. She did not believe that the Department should pay this much for a 25-year period.

Mr P D N Maloyi (ANC) [Northern Cape] asked why the Department was building a prison in the Northern Cape when the population of that province is decreasing.

Mr Tshivase responded that the prison set for construction in the Northern Cape is a maximum security facility. Presently there is no maximum security facility in the Northern Cape and prisoners must be transferred to other provinces.

Mr Tshivase informed the Committee of the interdepartmental task team that includes members from South African Police Services and the Department of Justice that is currently investigating the overcrowding problem. A concerted effort from all three Departments must be made to help alleviate the overcrowding problem.

Inception of New Correctional Supervision and Parole Boards
A Department of Correctional Services representative outlined the new parole system to the Committee. The Department outlined the following aspects of the implementation of the new parole boards. Locating parole as part of rehabilitation and reintegration, background information to inception of new Boards, composition of correctional supervision and parole boards, criteria for appointment of members of boards, competencies, appointment procedures, nomination of applicants, conditions of employment, number of boards, and functions and responsibility. (Please see presentation attached)

Discussion
Ms Kgoali asked, with regard to selecting a chairperson of a parole board, if a member of the community who has good problem solving skills but is not formally educated would be considered for the position.

The Department stated that many factors would go into evaluating someone's ability to serve on a parole board and that problem solving skills would be included in those factors.

Mr Maloyi asked what happens to someone who receives a presidential pardon with respect to parole.

The Department answered that the parole board has no control over someone released due to a presidential pardon.

A Member of the ANC asked where funding for the new parole boards is specified in the budget.

The Department answered that there is specific money budgeted for the parole boards. The boards, however, will use current facilities, which will limit the cost.

Mr L Lever (DA) [North-West] pointed out that the parole board must consider language skills and cultural sensitivity when selecting members of the parole board. He also said that the Department should consider requiring the chairperson of the parole board to disclose his financial situation—a measure that would help protect against corruption. Conflicts of interest should also be discussed.

The Department stated that conflict of interest issues were being dealt with. The Department agreed to pass on the idea of open disclosure to the task team for consideration.

The Department explained that the key to the success of the new parole boards is the independence of the parole boards and the community involvement. He stated that the victim will also be brought into the process.

Prince B Z Zulu (ANC) [Kwazulu-Natal] asked what the Department meant by "work experience" as a criteria for selecting members for the parole board.

The Department answered that "work experience" was an important criteria because the parole board members must be accustomed to handling responsibility.

The Department explained that the vice chairperson of the parole boards will be community members after an initial interim arrangement wherein members of the Department will serve as vice chairpersons for the first two years.

Mr Maloyi asked why the Department specified that the parole boards will be called as needed. How will the parole boards know how often to meet?

The Department answered that in the best case scenario, the parole boards would be convened full time, but the Department does not have the funding for that situation. The boards have been envisioned with input from the Department of Justice and police services and should help to shift the fundamental attitude of correctional services to rehabilitation.

The Department thanked the Committee for its input.

The meeting was adjourned.