Question NW1019 to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services

Reply:

a) The following are the key actions towards curbing the contraband into DCS facilities:

• DCS officials are sensitised to comply with Security policies and procedures by ensuring that proper and regular searches of inmates, officials, visitors and services providers are conducted at Access Control points. For any non-compliance, consequence management which includes disciplinary cases and opening criminal cases with SAPS is undertaken.
• Bag-less society is implemented in all Correctional Facilities and the relevance of this is discussed during morning parade and at security forum committee meetings.
• Frequent patrolling of outer perimeter fencing on a daily basis including foot patrols during the day and night.
• Officials are sensitised on a daily basis on the consequences of colluding in corrupt activity with offenders and inmates.
• Smuggling and corrupt activities by officials within the Correctional Facilities is a standing point of the agenda at morning parade and at security forum meetings
• Searching of official vehicles, service providers and visitors using metal detectors search mirrors, scanners and body scanners at entry points.
• The use of EST officials to conduct random surprise search operations at all access points of the Correctional Facility.
• The assistance of SAPS, Metro Police (sniffer dogs), South African Revenue Services inspection services (illegal imports) and Crime Intelligence Unit are requested at different intervals
• The use of DCS K9 Unit (sniffer dogs & corridor dogs) during surprise searching operations.
• The use of walkthrough, hand held metal detectors, scanners, of parcel scanners and the use of x/ray scanners which are installed at certain Correctional Facilities
• Incidents of smuggling by officials with offenders are investigated and disciplinary action taken against perpetrators.
• Use of internal information gathering on smuggling or corrupt activities.
• The Emergency Security Team (EST) at Management Areas is tasked to continually do search and clean-up operations.
• M&E including provision of support to custodial officials by management.
• The issue of integrated planning with stakeholders which features prominently as DCS works closely with other players in the security space, such as, SAPS, DOD, CSIR, etc. does yield good results.

(b)(i) Eighteen (18) officials have been dismissed for smuggling goods and contrabands.

(b)(ii) Seventy-four (74) officials were prosecuted in the past two years, 40 cases for 2019/2020 financial year and 34 cases for 2020/2021 financial year.

END.