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Deputy Minister of Correctional Services Mr. Thabang Makwetla has commended the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) Grootvlei Management Area, in Bloemfontein, for ensuring that more than two-thirds of their inmate population is receiving antiretroviral (ARV) treatment.

According to the Area Commissioner of Grootvlei Management Area, Mr. Sipho Manqele, more than 50% of their 5,608 inmates have undergone HIV testing, and, of those tested, more than two-thirds are on ARV treatment.

Deputy Minister Makwetla visited the Grootvlei Correctional Centre today (13 October), as part of his country-wide visits to various correctional centres to improve service delivery. Addressing DCS senior managers in Bloemfontein, Mr. Makwetla said: “The Grootvlei Management Area must be commended for their efforts towards ensuring that more than 50% of their inmate population have undergone HIV testing, and more than two-thirds of this population are receiving ARV treatment in order to maximally suppress the HIV virus and stop the progression of the HIV disease. As DCS, we must intensify our efforts with regards to TB and HIV/AIDS screening and treatment, as well as general training and mentoring of staff on TB/HIV management. We also need to aggressively move in the direction of more structured, and regular, rehabilitation programmes for inmates. Whilst DCS has made significant progress in transforming our facilities from prisons to correctional centres, we can do much more,” said Mr. Makwetla.

As part of ensuring that DCS is more innovative and results-driven, on 9 October the Deputy Minister visited Tswelopele Correctional Centre in the Northern Cape, on 8 October he was at St. Albans Correctional Centre in the Eastern Cape and on 7 October at Pollsmoor Correctional Centre in the Western Cape. Other centres are scheduled to be visited later this month.

Issued by: Department of Correctional Services