Chairperson, I want to welcome and congratulate Adv Ngoako Ramatlhodi in absentia in his new portfolio as Deputy Minister of Correctional Services.
Let me take this opportunity to talk about some issues that are dear to my heart, namely security and correctional facilities and remand detainees.
The Security Programme, which is one of the seven programmes in the Department of Correctional Services, provides safety and secured conditions for all persons incarcerated, consistent with the human dignity in support of security to personnel and the public. This programme has been allocated an amount of R5,6 billion, which is the highest allocation of all programmes in this budget and takes 37% of the total allocation for 2011- 12.
It is a concern that while we pump more money into security we still experience such daring escapes from our facilities as we have witnessed in Harrismith, where 41 awaiting-trial offenders escaped last year, and the recent escape of seven awaiting-trial offenders from Mthatha Correctional Centre last month. It is particularly disturbing to witness such daring escapes in each incident. These persons certainly cast doubt on the level of security our correctional facilities.
The incidence of assault and unnatural deaths in our facilities is another area which remains a serious concern. It is a concern because some of these deaths could have been prevented and some of the assaults are perpetrated by correctional officials.
In this regard, the ANC-led government is committed to the development of a human rights culture in formal institutions to ensure the rehabilitation of offenders.
This budget must ensure resources for the humane accommodation of inmates. Reducing overcrowding could provide conducive conditions for the rehabilitation programme. It remains a systematic problem involving not just the Department of Correctional Services' budget, but co-operation by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, the Police, Public Works and Social Development is of paramount importance.
Correcting offending behaviour is the responsibility of society as a whole. Chairperson, it cannot be business as usual whilst people die like flies in our facilities on a daily basis. The department needs to strengthen their zero tolerance towards escapes, assault and all kinds of deaths in our facilities.
In their 2009-10 annual report, the Office of the Inspecting Judge reported 55 cases of unnatural deaths in our facilities and 992 natural deaths. These alarming figures of people dying in our facilities are a cause for concern. The department states that its mission, amongst others, is to detain all inmates in safe custody whilst ensuring their human dignity. Hopefully, as we go forward, the department will manage to fulfil its mission.
It is almost impossible not to associate escapes with collusion of corrupt officials in the department. An increase in the budget allocation to security cannot deter corrupt officials from their corrupt activities, which result in putting our communities in danger of those who escape.
In his state of the nation address last year, the President stated that all people in South Africa must feel and be safe. It is therefore important that the department should do everything possible to root out all those corrupt officials. I would be failing in my responsibilities if I don't emphasise that vetting of officials in the Department of Correctional Services should be given a priority. The chairperson has also alluded to that.
The National Commissioner of Correctional Services has been talking about planning for the establishment of an academy for correctional officials. We support that call. It will make our correctional officers professionals so that the department becomes an employer of choice, not a measure of life resources for those who cannot find employment somewhere else. It must be emphasised that there is no place for those with corrupt tendencies in the Department of Correctional Services.
While still on security, I need to emphasise that security is central in almost all activities of the correctional centres. However, there is a need to create a balance between security and other activities within correctional facilities, especially rehabilitation programmes. Whilst we call on the budget to be aligned with the White Paper on Corrections, we also call for an alignment between daily programmes provided for offenders and the White Paper. In most instances offenders cannot attend programmes because of the security of offenders. They cannot go to hospitals because of security. Prison workshops stay empty because of security. It cannot be business as usual when offenders are deprived of the opportunity of labour acquisition, of skills and of rehabilitation because of security.
The issue of remand detainees has finally been placed as the responsibility of the Department of Correctional Services by Cabinet. We have seen the strengthening of the system on remand detainees in the Correctional Matters Amendment Bill which was recently before the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces. Amongst issues included are the provision of uniforms for remand detainees for security reasons; regulation of the surrender of remand detainees to the police for further investigation; and fixing the time that a person should remain in remand detention.
This would be in line with the beautiful Constitution of this country, which states in section 35(3)(d) that every accused person has a right to have their trial begin and concluded without unreasonable delay. Hopefully, we will see the burden of the numbers of awaiting-trial youth in our correctional facilities being reduced with the implementation of these provisions.
All these measures are welcome, especially since the area of remand detainees has been a neglected area, coupled with confusion as to whose responsibility it is to take care of remand detainees within the criminal justice system in South Africa. Hopefully, the department will finalise both the White Paper on Remand Detainees and the establishment of a remand detention grant. Thank you. [Applause.]