Sihlalo, mhlonishwa, neNdlu yonke ehloniphekile, ... [Hon Chairperson and all hon Members ...]
... the IFP is concerned about awaiting-trial detainees who have been detained for a long time at correctional centres. Some of them are released after years of incarceration, without being charged. Some cannot afford to pay bail, which could be less than R1 000, yet they are costing the state a lot of money - millions of rands. Some cannot be released because their home addresses are not known; or if released, they cannot be found later in order for them to be prosecuted.
The state spends a lot of money merely to keep these detainees incarcerated. The department should be assisted by their sister departments to alleviate this problem. The department, under the JCPS cluster, should work hand in hand in order to solve this matter at correctional centres.
Rehabilitation and care is the core business of this department and it has to improve its performance. Offenders who do not want to attend classes should not be considered for parole because when these offenders are released, many quickly reoffend and return to prison.
All sentenced offenders should be closely monitored while they are kept in prison. Offenders should be given a chance to improve themselves while they are in prison.
Offenders should not forget that, while in prison, they are being fed and clothed by taxpayers' money, paid by those whom they had wronged and by the relatives of their victims. Young offenders should be forced to attend school without exception.
There should not be a single offender doing nothing. Incarceration should not be treated as if it were a five-star hotel stay, but as a time for offenders to be empowered and rehabilitated.
With regard to violence at correctional centres, it is worrying to hear and see this happening in prisons especially when, upon investigation, we find that there are officials involved. These officials who are using inmates to stir up riots in prisons must be prosecuted because they are using these inmates to settle their own personal scores. Those inmates who are being used by these officials must know that they will never qualify for parole.
The department must work harder to eliminate gangs from operating in prisons and gang members must be punished harshly. Gangsterism is the norm in prisons. However, this does not mean that it is supposed to be tolerated at all costs. Gangsterism destroys the lives of those inmates, who do not want to belong to gangs, and everything possible must be done to put a stop it.
Problems have arisen because of the department not working fully with the State Information Technology Agency, Sita. Many departments have similar problems, but the Department of Correctional Services is the worst of all.
Sita has claimed for work uncompleted, yet it wants to be paid for it, and the department has paid for work that was not completed. This situation is unacceptable. There should be a good working relationship between Sita and the department in order to improve services to the department. In these days of technology it should be a simple matter of department officials being able to press a button to obtain information about inmates in correctional centres.
Both parties should avoid going to court to solve their disputes, and they need to negotiate solutions. Both parties should stop wasting time with regard to misunderstandings between Sita and the department.
With regard to catering services, I want to refer to Bosasa. The IFP is waiting to see what... [Interjections.] ...
No, keep quiet ... [Inaudible.] ... I don't want any noise here. [Laughter.]