Committee Programme: discussion

Meeting report

CORRECTIONAL SERVICES PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
15 September 1999
COMMITTEE PROGRAMME: DISCUSSION

Document handed out
Draft committee programme (attached to end of minutes)

SUMMARY
After discussion, the draft committee programme was adopted.

MINUTES
The proposed programme was considered. With regard to item A (2) the chairperson said that Judge John Trengove of the Judicial Inspectorate had informed him that the work of the Judicial Inspectorate was too much for a retired judge. The judge had advised that Parliament should push for the appointment of a full-time judge.

A committee member pointed out that the Auditor-General's report makes certain recommendations and asked if the committee could create checking mechanisms to ensure that the A-G recommendations are carried through? The point was noted.

Another committee member commented the judge had complained about the workload for a retired judge and wanted to know what was the rationale behind appointing a retired judge. The Chairperson said that they would invite the judge to address the committee and explain what was the rationale.

With regard to item B (1), Ms Seaton (IFP) proposed that there be a separate subcommittee on Budget while the second subcommittee deal with administration, legislation and transformation and the third subcommittee deal with social affairs.
This was accepted.

The Chairperson asked opposition parties to indicate in which of the subcommittees they wished to serve. Ms Seaton (IFP) asked whether they would be allowed to serve on all the subcommittees. The chairperson responded that there was no restriction. The DP indicated that Ms Sigaba and Mr de Vos will serve on the Social Affairs subcommittee. The IFP indicated that Ms Seaton will serve on the Budget subcommittee and Mr Mzizi on the Social Affairs committee. The NNP said that Mr Durand will serve on the Social Affairs subcommittee and they would inform the committee later on which subcommittee their alternate would serve.

With regard to item B (5), the chairperson invited the members to give some input in this regard. The members encouraged the chairperson to attend the Special Assignment interview but only after the committee has been briefed by the Department.

With regard to item B (7), the committee proposed that women (particular mothers with babies) and the welfare of prisoners should be added to the list.

Mr Fihla (ANC) proposed that additional item B (13) should be the briefing by the Judicial Inspectorate and this was accepted by the committee.

The programme was adopted by the members.

Appendix 1:
CORRECTIONAL SERVICES PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
PROPOSED PROGRAMME
The following programme is hereby tabled to the Portfolio Committee for consideration:

A. WHAT HAS HAPPENED THUS FAR

2. Chairman's meeting with Judge John Trengove Judicial Inspectorate
31 August 1999

3. Chairman's meeting with Dr Sibusisiwe Bhengu Director in the office of the Minister of Correctional Services
9 September 999

4 Chairman's meeting with the researcher Ms Nadia Levin

5. Invitation by Public Accounts Portfolio Committee to the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services for report of the Auditor General on the budget
8 September 1999

B. PROPOSED PROGRAMME
1. That the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services should set up the following sub-committees:
1.1 Transformation Affairs
1.2 Legislation and Budget Affairs
1.3 Social and Administration Affairs

2. That each sub-committee of the Portfolio Committee should consist of at least five (5) members.

3. That the Chairperson shall belong to the sub-committee on Transformation and be ex-officio member on the others.

4. That all the members of the Portfolio Committee were encouraged to attend the briefing of the Public Accounts Committee by the office of the Auditor General on Wednesday the 8 September 1999 at Committee Room No. L 2.49

5. That the Chairperson should prepare for the interview on Special Assignment of the SABC TV.

6. That a programme for visiting prisons throughout the country should be drawn up and prioritised.

7. That the following issues, inter alia, should be focused on:
7.1 Overcrowding
7.2 Children in Prisons
7.3 Personnel
7.4 Health
7.5 Corruption
7.6 Escapes
7.7 Violence and organised crime
7.8 Correctional Supervision including Electronic Monitoring
7.9 Rehabilitation and reform
7.10 Parole System
7.11 Post-release programme
7.12 Liaison with the media, NGOs etc.
7.13 Morale of the Warders
7.14 Discipline of the Warders
7.15 Discipline of the Prisoners
7.16 Partnerships (eg. Business Against Crime etc.)
7.17 Competencies cluster collaboration
7.18 Statistics (vital) (eg number of prisons number of warders, number of children in prison, cases etc.)
7.19 Gun Control Policy
7.20 Research
7.21 Legislation
7.22 Budget
7.23 Roadshows /Visits
7.24 Management
7.25 Systems
7.26 Categorisation of Prisoners
7.27 Classification (eg. In respect of type of offence or age)

8. That the members of our Portfolio Committee should serve as alternate members on Portfolio Committees within the cluster of security.

9. A briefing by the Minister is extremely urgent

10. A briefing by the Commissioner and Heads of Departments

11. A workshop for all Portfolio Committee members

12. A special workshop for the Security Cluster Portfolio Committees

1. Election of the Chairperson
25 August 1999