Report on Visits to Prisons In Gauteng, Western Cape and Eastern Cape: deliberation

Chairperson: Mr L Modisinyane (ANC)

Documents handed out
None

SUMMARY
The Committee discussed the report on their visits to prisons in Gauteng, the Eastern Cape and Western Cape. Members felt that to deal adequately with the problems of overcrowding and awaiting trial juveniles, the Correctional Services, Justice, Safety and Security, and Social Development Committees should have a joint meeting involving all Departments concerned. The Committee unanimously agreed but felt some earlier discussion within committees and departments might benefit such a joint meeting.

MINUTES
The Chairperson told the Committee that their visits to prisons had been very productive. Members from the Safety and Security Committee had not been present, but the Justice Committee had also been well represented. The most important problems identified were overcrowding and awaiting trial juvenile offenders. The tour had interacted with social workers and other welfare officials, police and prison workers. He suggested that the Committee convene an urgent joint meeting with the Portfolio Committees of Safety and Security, and Justice and Social Development, as well as related departments.

Discussion
Mr J Selfe (DA) agreed on a joint meeting. However, he suggested the Committee first discuss the report issues and decide on their objectives. If the other departments also did the same before the meeting, the results of the joint meeting would be most fruitful.

Mr M Moatshe agreed and asked the Chair to enquire about the progress of the other department's discussions on these matters. It would be preferable to know beforehand which issues department felt were pertinent to a joint meeting.

Mr T Nkosi (ANC) complained that opposition parties did not attend Committee meetings. The opposition could thus withdraw responsibility, claiming that the Committee was solely an ANC initiative. The Chairperson concurred and promised to write to the leaders of opposition parties to say the Committee would not tolerate their MPs' behaviour.

Mr N Fihla alleged that the Departments of Justice, and Safety and Security, had used the Department of Correctional Services as a "dumping ground". Justice processes were inefficient and this was escalating overcrowding. The two departments should visit to check conditions in prisons. Some of the Social Welfare Department's buildings should be used to accommodate juvenile offenders.

Mr Selfe agreed and quoted the 655 vacant spaces country wide within the Department of Welfare. However, the Department of Correctional Services still kept juvenile prisoners in overcrowded conditions on the basis that there were inadequate places of safety. He felt the Department of Social Welfare should also attend the joint meeting.

The Chair said the Committee should focus on how it could help children who had committed economic crimes, but were not kept in facilities run by the Social Welfare Department. The Committee should intervene and suggest active solutions as soon as possible.

Mr Tsolo alleged that magistrates and prosecutors regularly unnecessarily postponed cases until offenders had stayed in jail for up to 130 days.

Mr Selfe said the Committee should first check how many of the report recommendations had been implemented by departments before their next meeting.

The Chairperson said they needed an urgent meeting to address the situation of juvenile offenders. He had a document citing the case of a youngster who had been awaiting trial for five years.

Mr Fihla suggested that the Department of Home Affairs should also attend this joint meeting.

Mr Selfe raised a previous Committee discussion regarding an incident at St Albans Home. The issue had never been followed up. The Chair responded that an attempt to follow up had been made, but he would try again.

The meeting was adjourned.