Correctional Services on Westville and Pietermaritzburg Correctional Centres

National Commissioner of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS), Mr. Zach Modise, has commended the department's National Task Team (NTT) for restoring secure, safe and orderly custody at the Westville and Pietermaritzburg Correctional Centres in KwaZulu-Natal.

Following other successful operations in various parts of the country, including St. Albans in the Eastern Cape and Mangaung in the Free State/Northern Cape region, the 120-member NTT, comprising correctional officials from across South Africa, commenced operations in KwaZulu-Natal on 3 February 2016.

At the Durban Medium-A centre, based on an assessment, the team implemented an action plan conducting daily surprise search, and seizure, operations. Twelve (10 ton) trucks were used to remove various items, including old mattresses, hundreds of plastic buckets, boxes, planks, old blankets, private clothes, private shoes, rotten food and bread, old containers and bowls, bottles, uniform, old broken appliances, broken pieces of metal, light fittings and shoes. In addition, items confiscated included 411 cell phones, 404 batteries, 141 chargers, 482 sim cards, 133 ear pieces, dagga, 68 mandrax tablets, whoonga, 16 knives, 118 sharpened weapons, cash, bank cards, foreign currency, cigarettes, jewellery, hair cutting machines, memory sticks and padlocks.

As part of the operation, two correctional officials have also been suspended, pending an investigation, for conspiring with inmates to smuggle cell phones. The NTT has also been working daily from 5am until lockup to ensure that no stabbings, and other unlawful incidents, take place, and are assisting Durban Medium-A officials to better manage the centre.

Commissioner Modise has applauded the NTT for their diligence and commitment. Members of the DCS National Task Team must be commended for their diligence, and commitment, in restoring secure, safe and orderly custody at various correctional centres across South Africa. A comprehensive security strategy is a prerequisite for correction and rehabilitation. The balance between security, control and justice is the responsibility of all correctional managers. Given the...