Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, Members of Parliament, on behalf of Cope, I take this opportunity to congratulate the Minister on her appointment as the new Minister of Correctional Services. I have no doubt in my mind that, given her experience and the lessons learnt from the past, she is capable of carrying us through the challenges facing this department. Definitely, this department will require a complete focus of her attention.
If ever there was a department in need of stern correctional measures and rehabilitation, it is the Department of Correctional Services. In fact, given the information at our disposal, the department can be correctly referred to as the "department of incorrect services".
The situation in the department is that serious corruption is rampant and vacancies are extensive. Lack of compliance is routine; internal controls are lacking; record-keeping in respect of supply chain management processes is shoddy; the assets register is not up to date; and millions of rands are unaccounted for.
The hand-over report of the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services highlighted a number of unresolved matters, including the lack of accountability to the portfolio committee and irregularities with regard to Public Service rules and regulations. The following matters were highlighted.
The report notes the department's disregard of the constitutional requirement to be fully accountable to the portfolio committee, as witnessed in the redeployment of Mr V Petersen, notwithstanding the position of the portfolio committee. A contract was awarded to Bosasa to cater for seven correctional services centres while the matter was still being considered by the portfolio committee. The department shows unwillingness to provide the portfolio committee with timely and accurate information, especially with regard to break-outs from prison. The portfolio committee went so far as to declare that it was of the opinion that important information had been withheld. This presents a constitutional dilemma.
The report notes failure to furnish the portfolio committee with a progress report on the high-level public servant suspensions that took place in September 2008, which were only announced by the then National Commissioner on 21 October 2008.
The report also notes not following proper procedures and blatantly ignoring the findings of the National Treasury and the Department of Public Works task team, which recommended an immediate and thorough feasibility study in order to consider cost escalation factors as well as the differences between public and private prisons.
The report further notes not ensuring that all officials in the department have gone through the vetting process as required by Public Service regulations.
There's a need to thoroughly scrutinise the role of the regional commissioner of the Western Cape, Patrick Gillingham, in respect of the awarding of a number of tenders.
With regard to the purpose of medical parole, hon Minister, you mentioned the review of section 79 of Act 111 of 1998. I don't think, Minister, we should just mention this - we should do it.
Kufuneka uyenze le nto, Mphathiswa, ungayikhankanyi nje. [You must do this, hon Minister, you must not just end at mentioning it.]
In 2007, 1 136 prisoners died in hospital. Of this number, 1 056 were classified as natural deaths and only 80 died of unnatural causes.
In 2007-08, 50 prisoners were released on medical parole, compared to 81 in 2006-07. The Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services raised concerns regarding the application of section 79. In their annual report for 2007-08, the Judicial Inspectorate states that they are of the view that the applicable statutory provisions of section 79 should be reviewed, together with the policy administration rules.
Based on the facts I have mentioned above, Cope wants to know what criteria were used to grant Shabir Shaik medical parole while many sick offenders are still in jail around the country. [Interjections.]
In conclusion, we as Cope believe that in order to ensure clean governance and to correctly prioritise the Minister's tasks for the next five years, the Minister must appoint a judicial commission of inquiry to look into the overall status of the department. I thank you. [Applause.]