Pretoria - Correctional Services National Commissioner Zach Modise has reiterated that the rights of inmates cannot be compromised.
This follows reports of unprotected strike action last week by Correctional Services officials at the Johannesburg and Bethal correctional centres.
Labour Organisations, Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) and Public Servants Association of South Africa (PSA), have distanced themselves from the strike.
Commissioner Modise has assured the striking officials that their concerns are receiving urgent attention, and has called upon them to adhere to lawful channels of communication.
“The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) is designated as an essential service. We, therefore, call upon all officials to follow lawful channels of communication, and not to embark upon any unlawful, and illegal, labour action.
“The disruptive behaviour by certain officials to the systemic functioning of DCS compromises the basic human rights of inmates, as offenders have the right to conditions of detention that are consistent with human dignity. Action will be taken against officials who promote such unlawful, and unprofessional, conduct.
“As National Commissioner, I have again urged our Human Resource component to be sensitive to the issues raised by officials which DCS, in certain instances, has not finalized. DCS Managers need to be alive to the frustrations of officials, which should equally frustrate management,” Commissioner Modise said.
Commissioner Modise said staff should not be afraid to raise issues in an appropriate manner, and those officials who remain unsatisfied at local, area and regional level are welcome to elevate their concerns to Head Office.
“As DCS, we remain committed towards ensuring that all issues raised by officials are speedily resolved. In this regard, we are engaging POPCRU and PSA, who are the recognised labour union representatives of DCS officials, as well as DPSA and our sister departments in the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster.
“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 towards finding practical, and satisfactory, solutions to the challenges that face us as a Department,” he said.
On 11 February 2013, a Ministerial Task Team (MTT) was established during a Ministerial Consultative Forum, with POPCRU and PSA.
The Task Team, comprising of 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.
According to Commissioner Modise, the MTT has since resolved a number of issues.
“However, there are certain matters which remain partially resolved or unresolved. Together, we will overcome the challenges,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
