People's Assembly

NW2962E - 18 October 2013

Velaphi Bethuel Ndlovu to ask the Minister of Correctional Services

(1) Whether the (a) fire extinguishers and (b) first aid kits in all his departments’ buildings were serviced in 2012; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) who is responsible for ensuring that the (a) fire equipment and (b) first aid kits meet the required safety standards?

CW628E - 18 October 2013

Muntukaphiwana Milton Mbongiseni Zulu to ask the Minister of Correctional Services

(1) Whether the female warder who was held hostage at the Mangaung Prison has received any counselling; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) what steps have been taken by his department to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future; (3) whether any plans are in place to enhance the safety of prison warders; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply from the Minister of Correctional Services on 18 Oct 2013

1) Yes, the official was immediately admitted at the Bloem Care Psychiatric Clinic for a period of three (3) weeks. After being discharged from the Clinic the official was placed on special leave and was still on leave as at 21 November 2013. The official is still receiving medical care and psychiatric treatment. 2) In the case of Mangaung Correctional Centre, the Department temporarily ...

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CW617E - 18 October 2013

Onell De Beer to ask the Minister of Correctional Services

(1) Whether, with reference to the ruling by the Supreme Court of Appeal on 16 April 2013 (details furnished), he has been informed that the (a) officials still did not receive their salaries as the court ordered and (b) action is illegal and may (i) hold ramifications for his department and tarnish his department’s name and (ii) cost the taxpayers more; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether he intends to take any urgent intervention processes in this regard; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply from the Minister of Correctional Services on 18 Oct 2013

(1) (a) It is correct that these officials have not received their backdated payments as yet, but they are getting their monthly salaries since reinstatement. (b) The Department need to follow certain processes before the payment of these amounts can be made - administrative processes are being finalised to effect payment. Payment is envisaged to be made not later than 20 December 2013. (i) ...

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NW3330E - 18 October 2013

Ian Ormiston Davidson to ask the Minister of Correctional Services

(1) What amount has (a) his department and (b) each of the entities reporting to him spent on advertisements placed on the SABC 24 hour news channel; (2) were these advertisements placed through the Government Communication and Information System?

NW3285E - 18 October 2013

Velaphi Bethuel Ndlovu to ask the Minister of Correctional Services

(1) (a) How many disciplinary cases are outstanding in his department and (b) what is the nature of each case; (2) (a) how long have these cases been on-going and (b) when will most of them be concluded; (3) whether the persons who are being charged have been suspended; if not, why not; if so, for how long will they be suspended; (4) whether the specified persons are still receiving their salaries; if so, what is the total cost of their salaries to the State?

NW3124E - 11 October 2013

John Henry Steenhuisen to ask the Minister of Correctional Services

(1) Whether any performance bonuses were paid to employees in his department in the 2012-13 financial year; if so, what is the total (a) number of employees that received bonuses and (b) amount paid out by his department for these bonuses; (2) what percentage of outputs were achieved by his department as measured against each target set in its Annual Performance Plan in the 2012-13 financial year?

NW3211E - 11 October 2013

Paul Bushy Mnguni to ask the Minister of Correctional Services

(1) Whether his department monitors the management of public-private partnerships that manage prisons in this country; if not, why not; if so, what are the reasons given by a certain company (name furnished) to dismiss over 300 workers at the Bloemfontein maximum security prison; (2) whether the dismissal of these workers compromised overall prison security; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether the involvement of administrative staff members in official guard duties forms part of the private partner’s operations; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW3057E - 11 October 2013

David Christie Ross to ask the Minister of Correctional Services

How much has (a) his department and (b) each of the entities reporting to him spent on promotional events organised by The New Age newspaper between 1 September 2012 and 30 August 2013?

CW514E - 11 October 2013

Zola Mlenzana to ask the Minister of Correctional Services

Whether the Government intends to (a) increase its investment in crime prevention and (b) prevent reckless prison (i) releases and (ii) escapes; if not, why not; if so, (aa) what are the projections to reduce the levels of crime, especially repeated crimes and (bb) what are the further relevant details?

Reply from the Minister of Correctional Services on 11 Oct 2013

(a) Yes. The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) is committed to continue to promote the rehabilitation, social responsibility and human development of all offenders in order to contribute towards general crime prevention, prevention of re-offending and successful reintegration of offenders into the community. In this regard the DCS is mandated to provide services and increase interventions that will, amongst others, contribute to the rehabilitation ...

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NW3110E - 11 October 2013

James Selfe to ask the Minister of Correctional Services

(1) Whether Ananius Mathe tried to escape from the C-Max correctional facility in Kokstad; if so, (a) how was it discovered that he was trying to escape and (b) what preventative action has since been taken by the prison; (2) whether an investigation has been undertaken into the matter?

Reply from the Minister of Correctional Services on 23 Jan 2014

1) Ananius Mathe tampered with his cell by scraping the cement between the bricks in a bid to get out of his cell. a) The incident was discovered by one of the correctional officials whilst performing his mandatory security checks as required at the facility. b) The Department has implemented various operational security measures, which cannot be disclosed at this point. It suffices to ...

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