Hon Chairperson, I wish quickly to make a few comments before I run out of time, as I usually do, especially at my advanced age! The care programme of the Department of Correctional Services provides needs-based programmes and services aimed at maintaining the personal wellbeing of inmates.
The programme does so by facilitating fitness, social functioning and health. It also maintains the spiritual, moral and psychological wellbeing of inmates.
The 2013-14 financial year allocation has decreased by 15% to R1,6 billion when compared to the 2012-13 allocation. It accounts for merely 8% of this year's total Department of Correctional Services budget, which amounts to R18,7 billion.
There are 1 843 funded posts of which 110 were vacant at 30 September 2012. The targets set by the department for 2013-14 are: 50% of inmates are to be tested for HIV and the 2011-12 target was 23%, whilst 42,5% was achieved; 94% HIV-positive inmates are to be placed on antiretrovirals and the 2011- 12 target was 49%, whilst 43% was achieved; 75% of inmates are to be put onto a cure regimen, the 2011-12 target for all communicable diseases was 8%, whilst 5,45% was achieved.
The 2011-12 ARV targets could not be reached, as some offenders refused to take medication for certain reasons best known to themselves. Measures must be put in place in order to prevent this.
Whilst there are major challenges facing the Department of Correctional Services on health and care issues, the budget has been reduced. In 2011-12 the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services reported that 17 of the 186 centres it visited had not once been visited by a doctor in three months.
They also reported that 34 202 complaints related to health care were recorded by the Independent Correctional Centre Visitors, ICCV, against a total of 39 868 in 2010-11.
To facilitate their rehabilitation, social responsibility, human development and enable their social reintegration, the rehabilitation programme provides inmates with needs-based programmes and interventions.
For the 2013-14 financial year R1,1 billion has been allocated, which is an increase of 13% over the 2012-13 year. Rehabilitation's portion of the total budget is only 6% of the total DCS 2013-14 financial year budget. This is a core DCS function and significant increases will have to be budgeted for to provide for the coming years.
This allocation will ensure that the percentage of inmates eligible to participate in further education and training college programmes are marginally increased from 13% in 2011-12 to 14,9% in 2015-16. It will also hopefully facilitate the provision of workshops for inmate education and development of educators on the latest policy and curriculum developments in the Departments of Basic Education and Higher Education and Training. There are 2 242 funded posts, of which 285 posts are vacant. The target is to ensure that 60% of offenders of the Correctional Sentence Plans complete correctional programmes; increase the number of inmates attending Adult Basic Education and Training to 67,2%; increase the number of those attending formal education classes to 1,4%; increase those in skills training to 28,7%; and those pursuing FET college programmes to 13,6%.
The hon Minister is also on record as having said that for inmates who have not completed Grade 7, it will be compulsory to attend school and Abet levels 1 to 4.
The current per capita expenditure for the upkeep of inmates that the hon Minister announced earlier, is hovering at around R9 831 per month. The department should consider promoting distance-based education, for example, through institutions such as Unisa.
The current tuition fee per annum does not exceed R5 000 per student at such institutions. Should 20 000 inmates opt to enrol, the annual cost will be R10 million, representing an insignificant percentage of the 2013-14 budget of R18 billion. The amount further pales into insignificance against the underspending of R730 million in 2010-11 and R894 million in 2011-12.
However, the cumulative benefit to families concerned, and society generally, remains inestimable if we can educate our people who are currently inmates.
Before I go on to something else I had better respond to some of the speeches we heard here this afternoon. To the hon Mphaphlele, let me say I trust that the Minister will pursue the issue that you have raised about the call for the release of political prisoners.
The hon Berend mentioned the White Paper and the need to have another look at it. I would like to assure her that the portfolio committee has already expressed itself on this particular aspect.
Today is the first time that I have seen the hon member at a meeting of Correctional Services. It would be a good thing if she were to attend some of our meetings because it will empower her.
As far as Baba Ndlovu is concerned, I cannot add "the hon member". He is a baba [father] to me. [Laughter.] Baba Ndlovu is a very vociferous member of the portfolio committee and I am certain that he will again have the opportunity to raise the issues that he has raised there.
As far as the hon Mulder is concerned, I wish to give him the assurance that there is a task team.
Daar is 'n taakspan oor menslike hulpbronne aangestel wat aan die Minister moet terugrapporteer voor die einde van Junie.
Ek wil dan net graag vir my goeie vriend Adv Max s dat hy mos baie betrokke is by sake oor menslike hulpbronne en hy neem hulle baie graag hof toe. Ek wens hom voorspoed daarmee en ek wil hom net verseker dat elke burger wat verontreg voel, volgens die Grondwet - dit is die voordeel van ons Grondwet - natuurlik die reg het om hom na die howe te wend om sy saak daar te stel. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[A task team on human resources has been appointed, which has to report back to the Minister before the end of June. And then I would like to say to my good friend Adv Max that he is, of course, very involved in cases regarding human resources, and likes to take them to court. I wish him well with that and I would just like to assure him that every citizen who feels aggrieved may, in terms of the Constitution - and this is the advantage of our Constitution - approach the courts to state his case there.]
My good friend the hon Selfe, we take note of everything you have said. He is very passionate about what he says and he knows full well that he is always listened to in portfolio committee meetings and, where possible, action has been taken on a number of issues raised by him in the past.
The hon Selfe is aware that wherever issues are raised, which are in the general and overall interest of the broad population, the department does take note of them.
I would like to thank the members of the ANC who have participated in this debate, the hon Minister for his maiden speech and the hon Deputy Minister for his speech. I think the hon Minister appears to be on the right track. What is needed is that we support him and stand behind him so that we can achieve what needs to be achieved to make Correctional Services a place where we can create better members of society once they leave that particular institution.
There is a lot more that one would like to say here, but unfortunately there is very little time. However, I need to say that a large percentage of the prison population suffers from mental illness or incapacity, which may be exacerbated by their experience of incarceration.
The needs of this group of prisoners must be identified as soon as they enter prison and a treatment and care plan put in place for them, which must continue once they are released into the community. It is not a question of merely doing something for them while they are inside. We need to see that we carry this through to when they return to the community so that recidivism can be limited.
The problems of this group of prisoners are often exacerbated by substance and general abuse. Planning for the transition from prison must be facilitated through the joint planning and co-operation of the different sectors of mental health, justice, corrections and substance abuse training centres.
An important aspect of this planning is to ensure that offenders have access to and can pay for mental health or substance abuse treatment in the community.
And now for ... gama labafazi, iziboshwa zesifazane zivamise ukuthi zibe abantu ababengasebenzi ngesikhathi sokuboshwa uma kuqhathaniswa nezesilisa kanti futhi eziningi kuzona zisuke zidinga kakhulu imfundo kunalezi zesilisa. Abasifazane abasebenzayo bahlala ezindaweni ezisesimweni ezingcono.
Labo asebehloliwe futhi belashelwa uphuzo nokusebenzisa izidakamizwa baba namathuba angcono okuthola ushwele. Izinhlelo ezilandela ukukhululwa kwazo ejele zibalulekile futhi ziyasizwa iziboshwa zesifazane ukuqala impilo yazo kabusha ngemuva kokuboshwa futhi zizizwe ziyingxenye yemiphakathi ezibuyela kuyo. Ngiyabonga. [Ihlombe.] (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)
[... female prisoners! They are usually women who were not employed when they were arrested. When compared to their male counterparts most of them are usually in more urgent need of education than males. Employed women who are educated have the opportunity to lead better lives.
Those who are rehabilitated from alcoholism and drug abuse stand a better chance to be released on parole. It is important to rehabilitate them when they are released. Female ex-prisoners are assisted in starting new lives so they can feel that they really belong to the communities that they are released into. Thank you. [Applause.]]
Sorry, my IsiZulu is not very good.
I finally want to thank the hon chairperson, as well as Mama Ngwenya, for their leadership in the portfolio committee. Those of us who grew up on farms will tell you about the mother hen that will collect all her chicks whenever there is a storm and it is raining, to see that they are well taken care of.
It is not parliamentary to liken a Member of Parliament to an animal, but mama reminds me of that hen that takes care of those that are left to her responsibility. For that we are appreciative.
This committee is one where we don't really allow politics to take the upper hand. It is a committee that has to do with helping to make better citizens of our brothers, sisters, children and grandchildren who have been wayward.
Ons kan hulle nie weggooi nie. Ons moet hulle vertroetel en ons moet hulle help om beter burgers van die land te word. [We cannot discard them. We must nurture them and help them to become better citizens of this country.]