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Minister Balfour orientates new National Commissioner Xoliswa Sibeko
27 October 2008
Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour welcomed former Director-General of Sport and Recreation, Ms Xoliswa Sibeko as new National Commissioner of Correctional Services in Pretoria today.
Addressing a specially convened Management Co-ordinating Committee meeting with the Deputy Minister, Minister Balfour said the Presidency decided to cross transfer Mr Vernie Petersen and Ms Sibeko with effect from 27 October 2008. In terms of Section 12(3)(a) read with section 12(1)(a) of the Public Service Act, only the President has the authority at a national government level to deploy Heads of Departments. These deployments can take various forms including transfers, secondments, assignments and other career incidents as and when the President deems appropriate. In terms of the Presidential minute signed on 22 October 2008, the President transferred both Directors-General with their consent.
An example of these transfers was when three Directors-General were changed with Education Director-General (DG) going to Health, Health DG going to Foreign Affairs and Foreign Affairs DG going to Labour. It is therefore a normal practice in government.
In welcoming Ms Sibeko, Minister Balfour said he was looking forward to a fruitful working relationship that would advance the collective work of the department and ensure that it succeeds in achieving the goals it has set itself. Ms Sibeko said she was looking forward to the new challenge.
Minister Balfour appealed to all partners of Correctional Services to continued and intensify their support for the department in order to improve delivery of correctional services and build a secure and ethical institution.
Ms Sibeko's career includes being a lecture and Head of Department at the University of Western Cape, a Public Relations Director for South African Presidents, Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki and a Chief Director for Public participation programme at the Department of Provincial and Local Government, driving the establishment of the development and implementation of Community Development Workers concept.
Minister Balfour also bid farewell to former National Commissioner Petersen, thanked him for his contribution and wished him well in his new career.
Enquiries:
Manelisi Wolela
Tel: 012 305 8204/8205
Cell: 083 626 0304
Issued by: Department of Correctional Services
27 October 2008