Thank you very much, Deputy Speaker. The ratio which the hon member is referring to simply reflects the calculation of the current staff complement in relation to the estimated number of offenders, including projections of growth and releases. The ratio of 1:4 is therefore based on the total number of offenders divided by the total number of members nationally - that is, 160 000 inmates to 40 000 officials.
This formula is inclusive of all components: support staff, specialised staff and security staff. Therefore, it is not a reference to the staff to inmate ratio deployed for case management and security personnel in terms of the unit management model in centres. The current ratio for the unit management model at the centres is averaged at 1:17. The international norm is benchmarked at 1:20.
Following the agreement on the occupation-specific dispensation, OSD, of 2007, the department has implemented a process of migration to ensure that all officials who are trained as correctional officers are deployed to centre levels. This was aimed at ensuring increased capacity for the provision of security and programmes to offenders at the centres.
Following the National Treasury directive that the department's total organisational establishment should be reduced from 46 000 to 40 000, a team was established for the revision of the staffing ratios based on the alignment of structure and functions of the department. I have since also directed that an audit of our small centres be conducted to determine which one of these centres can be rationalised in order to share resources and improve the rendering of services. Some of these centres have an inmate to staff ratio of 1:1 and less.
Lastly, the project's target date for completion of the migration process is 30 September 2010. In the meantime, the department is currently filling critical posts in the support sections to allow those correctional officers who are currently engaged in support work to be redeployed to the centre. I thank you.