Skills Training and Pollsmoor Prison Fires: briefing by Department

Meeting report

SECURITY AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS SELECT COMMITTEE
16 November 2004
SKILLS TRAINING AND POLLSMOOR PRISON FIRES: CORRECTIONAL SERVICES BRIEFING

Chairperson: Mr K Makoena (ANC)

Documents handed out
Presentation on production and skills development in Department
Statement on the incidents at the admissions centre at Pollsmoor Prison

SUMMARY
The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) presented its plan for skills training for prison inmates. Officials explained that it was in the interest of society to provide the inmates with skills that would enable them to earn a living after release. This would increase their self-respect and would provide them with an alternative to re-offending. The Committee questioned the Department, stressing that they were impressed that recommendations had been taken from the earlier workshops. They were also concerned that broader society would be unhappy with the free skills training given to convicts.

The Department Area Commissioner presented a report on a recent fire at Pollsmoor Prison in the Western Cape, explaining that inmates had started the fires in their cell. The Committee expressed their dismay and questioned the motives of the inmates. The Committee was concerned with the response time of the Department during the fire. The Department explained that no grievances had been mentioned and that they had had no idea of the intentions of the inmates. The matter was being further investigated.

MINUTES

Department briefing on skills development
Ms Shishiba, Director of Development and Care, presented that inmates had been trained in various sectors. The benefit was that inmates had less idle time and therefore less time for mischief. Prisoners had been taught entrepreneurial skills. The intention was that inmates would be skilled to start their own small enterprises as they usually found it difficult to find employment with their records. Engineering and computer skills had also been taught as these were considered essential skills in the workplace. More than 15 000 inmates had participated in this programme. The Department and the Department of Labour had contributed to the funding of these projects. The training had been in line with legislative requirements such as the Skills Development Act. He listed the benefits and challenges of this programme.

Discussion
Mr S Shiceka (ANC) asked what had caused the fluctuation in production levels. Who were the service providers for the learnerships? What had the Department done to initiate the recruitment of past offenders because if the Department did not afford them an opportunity no one would? What had the Department done to attract and retain skills?

Ms Shishiba stated that the Department would be debating the possibility of setting an example by employing ex-prisoners. Contracts secured by these workshops fluctuated and therefore production fluctuated. The choice of service provider was limited to funds available. The attraction and retention of skills was problematic. However, the Department was in an advanced stage of devising a strategy of creating financial incentives.

Mr Z Ntuli (ANC) asked if there were different categories of training depending on the length of the inmates' sentence. Were there no qualified inmates who could be trained as trainers? How had the training centres been chosen?

A Department official stated that some inmates had indeed been trained as trainers.

Mr B Mkhaliphi (ANC) commented that he was pleased that the Department had taken forward the recommendations made at the workshop. The Department should avoid creating the impression that prisons were free institutions of higher learning.

Ms Shishiba stated that the strategy of training inmates was in the interest of society as these inmates would leave prison with earning potential and thus would be less likely to commit offences.

Ms S Leo (DA) asked what would happen to the profits of the production workshops. Did the production workshops pose a security risk as it had allowed inmates access to weapons?

The Department stated that they had relied on searching inmates to avoid danger and that no incidents had occurred as yet. Usually real money was not earned in the workshops as there was a special system of costing where no real money was used. If however goods were produced for other Department's money was earned and used for material.

Mr J Le Roux (DA) suggested that training should have been given in the building field. What percentage of the prison population had been trained? Had there been any success stories of released prisoners starting their own businesses after they had received training?

A Departmental official stated that 15% of the prison population had received training that was restricted by budgetary constraints. Inmates had been trained in the building field.

Ms Shishiba stated that the success would be measured in terms of integration and the ability to find employment after release.

Mr Mkhaliphi asked if these training centres could be opened to all interested parties.

Ms Shishiba agreed that outreach programmes should be looked into and that such programmes had been held in the past with much interest from the community.

Department report on latest Pollsmoor Prison fire
Department Area Commissioner, Mr Makhasnane presented a report on the investigations into the fire that led to the deaths of three inmates on 23 August 2004 and stated that the report had been lodged with the office of the Regional Commissioner. The report detailed the nature of the investigation and listed statements taken from officials and inmates as well as other source documents. The report contained a number of findings and recommendations, some of which had already been implemented. No member of Department could be held directly responsible for the deaths of the inmates. The Department would be investigating allegations that complaints and requests by inmates were not procedurally dealt with. The system of accountability and supervision was not adequate and drugs smuggling, overcrowding and gangsterism remained a serious problem.

Discussion
The Chairperson asked how many inmates had been in the relevant cell. He asked if the inmates had any grievances and who had to deal with these.

Mr Makhashana answered that it had been a single cell with only the three inmates inside. The prison record had shown no record of grievances lodged. However this was being investigated.

Mr Shiceka (ANC) asked what the Department had done to build relationships with inmates.

Mr Makhashane stated that attempts had been made to build relationships with inmates. Intercom systems had also been installed in cells to alert officials to emergencies. He asked that the Committee should recognise that inmates were devious with some of the information given and therefore only gave information that promoted their own ends.

Mr Ntuli asked if there were any mechanisms in place to root out gangs in the system.

Mr Mahashana stated that the Department had developed a strategy for dealing with gangsters. However it was a difficult matter. The Department was also seeking assistance from other departments.

Mr Mkahiphi asked about the cause of the fire. Mr Makhashana stated that the mattresses in the prisons responded quickly to fire. It should be noted that attempts were made to hide the fire by blocking off bars with bedding so that the fired would not be noticed.

Ms Leo asked the reason officials could not put out the fire. Mr Mahashana answered that the fire had been difficult to extinguish as the bars had been barricaded with burning material. Once the prison bars were hot it expanded, thus making it extremely difficult to open the cells.

The meeting was adjourned.