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Programme Director,
Deputy President, Jacob Zuma,
The Minister of Public Works, Nkosazana Stella Sigcau,
Premier Lionel Mtshali,
The Inspecting Judge, the Honourable Judge Johannes Fagan,
Chairperson of the National Council for Correctional Services, the Honourable Judge Siraj Desai,
Deputy Minister of Public Works, Rev M Zondi,
MECs here present,
Commissioner Linda Mti,
The Mayor of Kokstad and Councillors,
Provincial Commissioner, Patrick Gillingham,
Management and Members of Correctional Services,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Media.

The Department of Correctional Services has recently been the subject of intense media controversy with regard to the construction and official opening of the new Kokstad Management Area.

Criticism has been levelled at us because construction of this facility began in 1997 and work was completed in 2001, therefore prompting the media to refer to this project as a "white elephant".

Cognisance was not taken of the fact that we encountered many challenges at various stages of the development of the project. For this reason, I am very pleased to welcome Deputy President, Jacob Zuma, the Minister of Public Works, Nkosazana Stella Sigcau, Premier Lionel Mtshali, the Deputy Minister of Public Works, Rev Musa Zondi, MECs of this province, the Mayor of Kokstad and Councillors, various dignitaries here present, for having found the time to join us in celebrating the official opening of the Kokstad Management Area today.

We are particularly grateful that Deputy President Zuma is here today as we continue to enjoy his personal and official support, which is an indication of the seriousness with which Government as a whole regards the work of the Department of Correctional Services.

The Minister of Public Works has also been a long time supporter of our endeavours and has been with us on occasions of this nature in the past.

Today's occasion also commits this facility not only to Correctional Services but also signals our contribution to the development of the Province led by Premier Lionel Mtshali as well as to the people of Kokstad, and therefore justifying the approximate figure of R 500 million in capital investment which Government spent on the project.

It will be agreed that this is a worthwhile investment in view of the spate of violent crimes in the country, especially those directed at women, children and law enforcement officers.

Although this Management Area is located in Kokstad, it is meant to accommodate prisoners from all the provinces who, due to the nature of their crimes, pose a serious risk to society. Two prisons, namely, Ebongweni Maximum Prison and the Kokstad Medium Prison as well as the administration block will be officially opened today.

Ebongweni Maximum Prison will take in over 1 530 prisoners in the maximum classification category sentenced for offences and under the following circumstances:

* Murder with aggravating circumstances;
* Prisoners declared as dangerous by the courts;
* Prisoners sentenced for acts of terrorism;
* Serious sexual offences involving life-threatening levels of violence. This includes gang rape and sexual offences on children;
* Offences of armed robbery involving life-threatening levels of violence or which resulted in loss of life or causing disability;
* Where it has been determined that a prisoner is a member of a well-resourced criminal gang with the potential to use extreme violence or firearms in an escape attempt;
* Where the prisoner was sentenced for killing or seriously assaulting fellow prisoners;
* Where the prisoner was sentenced for killing or seriously assaulting law enforcement and judicial officials in the execution of their duties;
* Where the prisoner was sentenced for attempting to defeat the ends of Justice by killing, injuring or seriously assaulting law enforcement officers, judicial officials, witnesses and/or their families;
* Where the prisoner was sentenced for killing and repeated assaults; and
* Prisoners who repeatedly render themselves guilty of escaping from custody and who are considered a high risk to officials and the public.

It should be noted however that female prisoners, prisoners under the age of 18 years as well as prisoners with further charges at their prison of origin will not be admitted to this prison.

The Kokstad Medium Prison will accommodate almost 300 medium security prisoners and it will be managed like any other correctional facility but also emphasising rehabilitation within the context of Unit Management.

We are pleased that this Management Area will contribute in some way to relieving the overcrowding currently being experienced in our prisons.

There is currently a total prison population of 175,290 of whom 55,285 are unsentenced and 120,005 are sentenced prisoners. However, our accommodation capacity remains at 105,106 prisoners which means we are overpopulated by 70,184 prisoners or 66,8%.

We however have to be cognisant of the fact that we cannot build ourselves out of overcrowding but we have to adopt other strategies whose purpose is to ensure the reduction of our prison population, or as the Inspecting Judge of Prisons, Judge JJ Fagan says in his Annual Report for 2001/2002: "We do not need more prisons, we need less prisoners". We need to put together a combination of durable sustainable and long-term focussed crime reduction and expansion strategies.

Even though he further indicates in the report that during the year, statistics show that for the first time since 1995 the average number of awaiting-trial prisoners decreased compared to the previous year, we have to remain vigilant in our efforts to combat overcrowding.

It is necessary to explore alternatives to imprisonment, which involve serving the sentence within the community under supervision. Since the beginning of 2001, Section 62(f) of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1977 was introduced as a mechanism to reduce the number of awaiting trail prisoners who could not afford to pay bail. As a result, we have constantly appealed to the judiciary in particular magistrates to apply this provision.

Another strategy to reduce overcrowding was the introduction of plea-bargaining by the insertion of section 105A in the Criminal Procedure Act of 1977.

This was meant to allow accused persons through their legal representatives to negotiate with prosecutors, and to agree on a plea of guilty and an appropriate sentence. Subject to certain safeguards, the court may then convict and sentence the accused without the necessity of a trial. Again, we make similar appeal to the legal fraternity.

Earlier on, I indicated that this correctional facility will be run in accordance with the principles of Unit Management. Because Unit Management has demonstrated its effectiveness as a strategy to reduce prison violence and control gang activity while contributing to achieving prisoner rehabilitation.

And all staff members deployed at this facility will receive special training in addition to basic training provided to newly recruited Correctional Officers.

It will be ensured that personnel understand the philosophy of running a facility of this nature and well equipped to deal with the high-risk category of prisoners. More over the facilities being officially opened today will directly benefit from our rehabilitation policy, as we believe that every prisoner has the potential to change, thus the decision to introduce intensive rehabilitation programmes over a certain period.

In most countries, the design, planning and location of a prison is the beginning of an industrial growth and development point. From where a buzz of social and economic activities enhance the development of the locality and the region.

We believe that the construction of these facilities has already had some economic benefits for the Kokstad and neighbouring communities by creating jobs during the construction phase as well as the provision of 633 employment opportunities by the Department. We wish to pursue our policy of creating partnerships with the community, and we envisage that local entrepreneurs will continue to provide us with goods and services because we are not self-sufficient in everything.

In conclusion, I wish to extend my word of sincere appreciation to you Mr Deputy President, Minister Stella Sigcau, Premier Mtshali, MECs, the Mayor of Kokstad and all the other dignitaries for having graced this occasion with your presence, and making us proud of our service to the nation as a Department.

My gratitude also goes to all who contributed in one-way or another in making today's occasion the success it has turned out to be.

God bless Correctional Services, God bless South Africa.

I thank you.

Issued by Ministry of Correctional Services, 30 May 2002