Chairperson, the response to Bishop Tolo's question is: A chief directorate on remand detention systems has been established to do further work on the need for establishing a remand detention centre.
The justice, crime prevention and security cluster and the management of awaiting-trial detainees' project team was established with the Department of Correctional Services as the lead department to develop proposals with regard to the scope of the project. Work has been done in line with the strategic plan for 2007-08 to 2011-12. Draft guidelines for minimum infrastructure have been developed. There has been consultation with the Justice Crime Prevention and Security, JCPS, departments and we are in the approval process of the department.
Appropriate remand detention facilities will be established in line with the minimum facilities requirements. Regions have identified one correctional centre per region as a dedicated remand detention facility.
The department has appointed a research team to assist with the job refinement process which in fact means the alignment of the organisational structure with the functions of the department. This process has not been finalised but it is scheduled to be concluded before the end of the current financial year.
The creation of a branch for remand detention and regional head are dependant on the outcome of the process of alignment. The costing of a remand detention system, the development of the activity structure and the budget programme proposals have not been finalised by the project team. Proposals in terms of the programme structure of the department are an agenda item in discussions with the National Treasury which has taken cognisance of the importance of finalising the budgetary requirements of the remand detention project. Thank you.