/ 16 October 2006

Balfour implements Jali recommendations

Over 60% of the Jali Commission’s recommendations have either been or are in the process of being implemented by the Department of Correctional Services, Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour said on Monday.

Briefing the media at Parliament, Balfour said he welcomed the commission’s findings and recommendations, as they affirmed the department was on the right track in building an ethical and secure system, leaving no space for fraud and corruption.

They would also help sharpen interventions, as they identified some systematic weaknesses that needed to be addressed to close any loopholes, he said.

The commission probed irregularities in the department and handed its report to President Thabo Mbeki last year.

While aspects of the report have been released, the executive summary was only officially handed to the media on Monday.

The report recommended recruitment be outsourced or conducted under close supervision of the Public Service Commission.

The commission further recommended management prerogatives and discipline be reasserted, security be improved in various ways, a three-meal a day system and retraining officials on human rights.

Regarding sexual violence among offenders, the commission recommended training staff to deal with homophobia, rehabilitation of perpetrators and the protection of victims.

Recommendations on the parole process included establishing independent correctional supervision and parole boards, a parole review board and empowering offenders to appeal.

An audit of potential cases suitable for conversion in line with the Criminal Procedure Act was also recommended, as were the establishment of an independent prison ombudsman to address issues of corruption and the introduction of an internal witness-protection system.

Other recommendations included the introduction of a seven-day working week for officials to eliminate overtime payment, and the establishment of an internal audit function to evaluate control systems, reconcile goods or products and invoices and effectively control stock in workshops, kitchens and hospitals.

Balfour said a few recommendations might not be ”feasible or necessary”, including strategies to deal with gangs, converting sentences and changing C-max category facilities.

Recommendations already implemented or being implemented included creating a productive labour relations environment, internal investigation and code-enforcement capacity, an independent parole system with built-in reviews, improved prison security, a seven-day working week and reduction of overtime and recruitment process improvements.

Balfour said the department was also strengthening its ”onslaught” against fraud, corruption and unethical behaviour by publicly naming those found guilty and dismissed since the institution of various interventions. — Sapa