Oorbevolking bly een van die grootste struikelblokke tot rehabilitasie van gevoniste oortreders, sowel as 'n ernstige bedreiging vir die veiligheid van beide oortreders en amptenare van die departement.
Daarom Minister, moet u voorneme vandag om oorbevolking aan te spreek deur almal verwelkom word. Maar om die daad by die woord te voeg hieroor sal makliker ges as gedoen wees. Die probleme by Korrektiewe Dienste is ongelukkig sistemies van aard.
Die werklikheid is dat die tipe korrupsie wat die Bosasa-kontrakte in die kalklig gestel het, die rel is, eerder as de uitsondering. Daar was byvoordbeeld ook die kontrak ter waarde van amper R400 miljoen wat toegeken is aan Integriton vir die ontwikkeling van 'n geintegreerde bestuurstelsel. In misterieuse omstandighede is al
agt die ander tenders gediskwalifiseer tydens die evaluasieproses. Die kontrak is instandgehou deur die voorganger ten spyte daarvan dat die Nasionale Tesorie hom daarteen gewaarsku het.
Wat ons nou mee sit is dat slegs twee van die agt tykens wat die departement gestel het teen nou behaal is. 'n Projek wat voltooi moes wees, is steeds slegs operasioneel by die loodsfasiliteite. Wat erger is is die argelose manier waarop Korrektiewe Dienste tydens sy voorlegging aan die portefeuljekomitee vrae hieroor afgemaak het.
English:
So Chair, there was also the pilot project for the electronic tagging of parolees awarded in an irregular manner, a subject of the Special Investigating Unit, SIU, investigation to try and recover yet another R400 million. Unfortunately, electronic tagging aborted now by the Department of Correctional Services despite the fact that it's obviously part of the solution to overcrowding.
There is also infrastructure development project of the Department of Correctional Services. Five years ago, we were promised the creation of 6 800 additional bed spaces during the Fifth Parliament. Less than a thousand were delivered. Minister, since you took office
we have been informed that the completion of the Tzaneen facility, with 435 beds is an example of progress.
But the truth is that the story of the Tzaneen facility rather, is proof of the wastage and incredibly poor governance by the Department of Correctional Services and its sister department, Public Works. This project commenced 12 years ago. It suffered inordinate delays and the unavoidable resultant ballooning in costs, nothing to be proud of.
The same with Standerton project which commenced in 2009 and Escourt project which commenced in 2012, all ran way overtime. Now Minister, in the newest Annual Performance Plan, APP, you signed off, 2 500 additional bed spaces is promised over the next five years, yet in this financial year, there is no budgetary provision for any infrastructure project. So, there will be four years of your term left to deliver these additional spaces.
To meet this target and to root out the type of waste that is the hallmark of the Department of Correctional Services, you will act like a single minded hungry predator. You will be tempted to believe the promises and undertakings that now, because you took office and have expressed your intentions that going forward, the Department of
Correctional Services will embrace professional specification drafting, proper, transparent, bid adjudication and sound financial governance. Don't be hoodwinked.
In addition, Chairperson, the dark cloud that still hovers over the current National Commissioner, unfortunately complicates issues. As long as there is no stability at the head of the Department of Correctional Services, there is no way that the necessary reforms can take place. Therefore, Minister, you will not succeed, unless you grab the bull by the horns and ensure that the culture of impunity is rooted out at the Department of Correctional Services immediately.
The top decision makers at the department should be appointed in order to be able to deliver clean governance. This Minister, is the narrow, yet your only pathway which is available to you if you are serious about reforming the Department of Correctional Services into a well-functioning department. Thank you. [Applause.]
IsiXhosa: