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Correctional Services National Commissioner Zach Modise has urged the various departments in the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster to play their role in reducing overcrowding in the country’s correctional facilities.

This follows the recent order granted by the Western Cape High Court to reduce the number of persons detained at the Pollsmoor Remand Detention Facility (RDF) to 150% of the current approved accommodation within six months.

Addressing a meeting of the Western Cape provincial JCPS Cluster yesterday (17 January 2017), at the South African Police Service (SAPS) provincial headquarters in Cape Town, Commissioner Modise said that generally the issue of overcrowding in correctional centres is not a Department of Correctional Services (DCS) predicament alone but a crisis that the South African society, and specifically the JCPS Cluster and Treasury, have to address head-on as it is a symptom of a much bigger, and complex, problem.

“As the JCPS Cluster, we have agreed that there is an urgent need for continuous engagement, and a collective approach, at national, provincial and local level to find lasting solutions to the challenges of overcrowding in the country’s correctional facilities.

It is a well-known fact that overcrowding of correctional centres indicates a larger systemic ill in society, which is that of crime itself. Therefore, crime prevention, in cooperation with communities, remains a priority.

“Following a meeting of the national JCPS Directors-General (DGs) Cluster last Friday (13 January 2017), it was decided that this important matter of overcrowding must be cascaded to provincial JCPS Clusters.

The Western Cape JCPS Cluster has been requested to finalise its plan, which must include short and long-term sustainable solutions, to address overcrowding, as monthly progress reports must be submitted to court.

“As DCS, we are confident that together with all JCPS Cluster partners, including the SAPS, Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, State Security Agency, Special Investigating Unit, National Prosecuting Authority, Office of the Chief Justice, Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and Department of Defence, we will find solutions to overcrowding.

We remain committed to building a humane, efficient and effective correctional system. We must ensure that incarceration, and rehabilitation, is provided in a manner consistent with national and international standards,” Modise said.

“DCS has already undertaken various measures to address overcrowding including implementation of a series of action plans by DCS officials generally and Pollsmoor Management Area, in particular Pollsmoor RDF officials and management.

The ultimate objective is the realisation, and implementation, of recommendations contained in the Report by Judge Edwin Cameron, as well as the investigation by the Public Service Commission (PSC), in collaboration with the Judicial Inspectorate of Correctional Centres (JICS), into this matter,” said Modise.

Issued by Department of Correctional Services