Publications
Partners
The article, “Comrade Zwelinzima Vavi take note Department of Correctional Services,” by Goitsimang Edgar Magana carried
by MyNews24 on 18 December 2015 refers.
This year (2015), the formal prison system in South Africa marks 103 years making the Department of Correctional Services
(DCS) one of the oldest government departments in the country.
The
democratic elections of April 1994 brought with it the ANC’s commitment
to transform South African society at all
levels. Apart from the fact that this commitment highlighted the need
for the implementation of non-racial and non-sexist principles, it also
focused on human rights, the rehabilitation of offenders as well as the
effective implementation of demilitarisation.
In October 1994, DCS released the White Paper on the Policy of the Department of Correctional Services in the New South
Africa. Its aim was to "stimulate
debate on correctional matters and redefine priorities that will
eventually lead us to where we should be ... coming to grips with a
correctional model for the new South Africa”. Over
the past 21 years, despite various challenges, DCS has made significant strides. However, we still have a long road to travel.
Since their appointment in May 2014, the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Adv. Michael Masutha as well as
the Deputy Minister Mr. Thabang Makwetla have engaged with officials across the country.
Following my tenure as acting National Commissioner of DCS for almost a year, I was appointedas National Commissioner
following the Cabinet meeting on 10 June 2015. I joined DCS on 4 July
1979 in Klerksdorp, and this year (2015) marks my 36th
year of service. On 1st
July 2015, I interacted with officials from Head Office. As part of my
undertaking, I have also completed roadshows to all DCS regions, and
engaged with officials and provided updates, across the country.
With regards to the issues raised:
§ Uniform:
Uniform has been provided to
officials throughout, except during 2013/14 and 2014/15 when the
procurement process was halted because there was an intension to change
the uniform. The situation has since been resolved.
§ Insignia:
The department was demilitarised in 1996, and military ranks had to be
abolished. From that period, up until 2003, the department did not have
identification insignia, but had shoulder badges for all levels. From
2004 to date, identification insignia is available
for various levels.
§ Medical
Aid: The department complies
with the Medical Schemes Act, as well as directives of the Department of
Public Service and Administration.
§ Housing
allowance: These allowances are increased annually as per signed GPSSBC Resolutions.
§ Promotion
policies: Promotions were repealed in all public service Departments since 1 July 2001.
§ Occupational
safety dispensation payments: Payment
is determined by the compensation commissioner after an investigation
of reported cases. The department does not take decisions on these
matters.
§ Scares
skills employment opportunities and its appropriate recognition: The
department has advertised scarce skills in various media without
success, up until a scarce skill headhunting framework was developed to
fill vacancies.
Last month (November 2015), the department embarked upon Job Fairs
(Operation Hira, taking recruitment to the people).
§ Overtime
payment at labour relations rates: The
department has stopped paying overtime since the introduction of the
seven days establishment and OSD for corrections( GPSSBC resolution 1
of 2009 was signed in this regard).The
department is still paying overtime performed in exceptional
circumstances, especially if services are performed after the normal
prescribed working hours.
§ Danger
allowance: The allowance is
regulated through various collective agreements, signed from 2007 to
2015, which stipulate and list the eligible employees who qualify for
such payments.
§ Transport
to and from work: The department continues to provide transport to members who reside in areas where public transport is not available.
§ Transport
of school going children of members: The department continues to provide transport to children of members where transport is not available.
§ Subsidized
canteen facilities: Facilities
are still available but members are not optimally utilising them, as the
majority prefer to travel to nearby shopping malls to make their own
purchases.
§ Current
salaries paid not having kept within inflation: Salaries are negotiated and regulated at the Public Sector Bargaining Council, and pronounced annually.
Further, on 11th
February
2013, a Ministerial Task Team was established during a Ministerial
Consultative Forum with our recognised Trade Union partners - POPCRU and
PSA. The Task Team, comprising of four representatives from DCS
Management, POPCRU and PSA, was mandated to tackle a
range of issues in order to facilitate a sound union-management
relationship within the Department. The Forum resolved that the Task
Team would resolve all issues on, or before, 15th
March 2013. However, it soon became clear that, given the enormity of
the task at hand, it was necessary to set aside more time to achieve the
task. An extension was thus granted, and the deadline extended to 15th
June 2013. The Ministerial Consultative Forum also made it clear that
this intervention was in no way designed to replace the existing
Departmental Bargaining Chamber (DBC), but rather an instrument to
remove certain barriers that existed in the DBC. Accordingly,
the Forum also resolved that the DBC and others would remain to fulfil
their stated mandates.
The MTT was tasked with resolving the following issues:
1. Pay
Progression less than three (3) percent;
2. Overtime
for Nurses;
3. Pay
Progression for Social Workers;
4. Extension
of ELRC Resolution 4 of 2009 for Educators in DCS;
5. Merit
Awards for Qualifying Members;
6. Translation
of the 2nd Group of 2008 to correct notches;
7. Pay
Progression for Group One and Two appointed in 2008;
8. Absorption
of Learners;
9. Control
Room Operators;
10. Privatisation
and Outsourcing;
11. Leave
Management;
12. Translation
of Correctional Officials who were declared as
Artisans to the OSD of Correctional Officials;
13. Second
Phase OSD for Correctional Officials;
14. Backdated
Overtime since 2009;
15. Shift
patterns and the safety of Officials;
16. The
non-implementation of Collective Agreements, for example the Memorandum of Understanding (Settlement Agreement of 2005);
17. Promotion
Policy for the Department of Correctional
Services;
18. Removal
of Factors that affect the success of the
Relationship by Objectives (RBO);
19. Non-payment
of Housing Allowance; and
20. Employees
on Personal Notches.
The following issues have been resolved:
1. Pay
progression for employees earning less than three (3%) percent;
2. Overtime
for Nurses;
3. Pay
progression for Social Workers;
4. Extension
of ELRC Resolution 4 of 2009 Educators in DCS;
5. Merit
Awards for Qualifying Members;
6. Translation
of the 2nd Group of 2008 to correct notches;
7. Pay
Progression for Group One and Two appointed in 2008;
8. Absorption
of Learners;
9. Control
Room Operators; and
10. Removal
of Factors that affect the success of the Relationship by Objectives (RBO).
The following issues are partially resolved:
1. Translation
of Correctional Officials who were declared as Artisans to the OSD of Correctional Officials;
2. Second
Phase OSD for Correctional Officials;
3. Shift
Patterns and the Safety of Members; and
4. Non-Payment
of Housing Allowance.
We
operate in an environment where the fiscus is experiencing distress,
and where there are increasing calls from Treasury that
we must get value for every Rand that we spend. This requires that we
all work together in finding practical, satisfactory solutions to the
challenges that face us as a Department. It’s only together that we will
resolve all outstanding issues.
It
is well-known that Correctional Officials work in a very challenging
environment, with the responsibility to mould offenders
into becoming upright citizens. Many of them go the extra mile to ensure
that, upon release, inmates will be able to lead a crime-free life and
become citizens who can contribute to building a better country. It is
through their individual dedication, and determination,
that we are able to celebrate various pockets of excellence.
As
the National Commissioner, working together with our Minister and
Deputy Minster, we have the privileged task of guiding DCS
to new heights of professionalised service delivery. A good foundation
has been laid by my predecessors. I am certain that, over the next few
years, we will see significant reforms in DCS.
Working together, we will succeed!
(Zach Modise is the National Commissioner of the Department of Correctional Services)
