/ 21 August 2009

Correctional Services suspends 88 officials

Eighty-eight correctional services officials have been suspended following industrial action over the slow implementation of the occupation specific dispensation (OSD), the department said on Friday.

”The Department of Correctional Services welcomes the return to normality of operations at the Johannesburg Management Area,” it said in a statement.

The department said reports that prisoners had not been given food or access to health services were false.

It said court appearances were observed for all inmates from Medium A and new dates had been fixed for those who had missed appearances because of the ”go-slow”.

Correctional services officials went on industrial action earlier this week over their frustration that the department had failed to adhere to time frames for the implementation of the OSD.

Prisoners complained they had missed court dates and meals because of the go-slow. The department denied this saying contingency measures had been put in place.

”Food was supplied while medical care services were rendered by health professionals that were not on strike.”

Additional administrative staff, emergency support teams and managers from surrounding correctional centres were also brought in to ensure the delivery of critical services to inmates on Monday and Tuesday, the department said. — Sapa