Programme adoption

Correctional Services

03 August 2004
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Meeting report

CORRECTIONAL SERVICES PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
3 August 2004
PROGRAMME ADOPTION

Chairperson:

Mr D Bloem (ANC)

Documents handed out:

Committee Programme, August to September 2004
List of Non-governmental Organisations servicing the Department
Committee Oversight visits to Brandvlei and Drakenstein facilities
ANC Proposed Amendments to Committee Programme
Inter-relations to be developed in the IJS to deal with Awaiting Trial Prisoners
Final Report on Joint Oversight Visits
Department's 'Concept' of Centres of Excellence

SUMMARY

The Committee unanimously approved their Committee Programme and then discussed prison visits and constituency work. The Chairperson emphasised the importance of these two issues.

Although the Popcru strikes was originally on the agenda, debate around it was shelved until Tuesday 10 August. The Committee awaited a briefing on this issue from the Department.

MINUTES
In a meeting only attended by a few ANC MPs, the Committee unanimously adopted their Programme. The Chairperson refused to accept apologies from Members who did not attend, and emphasised the importance of Members attending as many meetings as possible.

Mr L Modisinyane (ANC) asked the Committee not to debate the Popcru strike today and instead discuss it at the next meeting. He said they should be briefed on the Popcru strike by the Department before their discussion.

They then moved onto the issue of constituency work. The Chairperson stressed the importance of this and said the review of such activities should be included in the Programme. As part of this work, all Members should inspect and assess conditions in prisons. The aim of these visits was (1) to ascertain the number of juvenile offenders, (2) to check educational facilities, and (3) to find out about mechanisms to ensure reintegration of offenders into society. Members had permission to visit prisons any time.

Members related harrowing stories of traumas experienced by awaiting-trial prisoners. The Chairperson recounted that there was an awaiting-trial prisoner in Kroonstad Prison who had appeared in court 43 times without being prosecuted. This prisoner had stayed in prison for five years. This was inhuman and a waste of government resources.

Mr Nkosinathi Fihla (ANC) felt that it was only ANC Members who visited prisons, and not Members from other political parties.

The Chairperson stressed that when the Committtee entered prisons, it should concentrate on education and development issues. The Committee should ask the Department to employ more teachers so prisoners could further their studies.

Mr Fihla (ANC) expressed concern about the lack of recreational facilities and the "dumping" of awaiting-trial youth in prisons. Hardened criminals should be kept in isolation before they "polluted" first-time offenders.

Mrs Sindi Chikunga (ANC) requested the Committee to visit prisons in other provinces, not just ones in the Western Cape. The Chairperson said the Committee unfortunately did not have enough money to visit other provinces.

The meeting was adjourned until Tuesday 10 August.

 

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