Presentation to Portfolio Committee on Escapes in DCS 13 November 2007

Purpose of presentation To brief the Portfolio Committee on: Trends with regard to escapes Security challenges and threats Measures to reduce escapes

Security challenges/threats: Why escapes? Changing profile of crime in the country points towards decreasing trends, however, trends that remains high involve sophisticated syndicates This increases unpredictable ATD population and increases our maximum security inmates Violent and contact crimes remain steady

Security challenges/threats: Why escapes? (Continued) Our facilities are old and not responsive to new threats Increasing ATD population increases vulnerability of our operations Overcrowding

Trends of escape in DCS over the last 10 years

Escape Trends for the past three years ESCAPES: CALANDER YEAR ESCAPES: FINANCIAL YEAR   2005 2006 1 Jan - 30 Nov 06 1 Jan. - 30 Nov 07 2004/ 2005 2005/ 2006 2006/ 2007 1 April 2006 - 30 Nov 2006 1 April 2007 - 30 Nov 2007 EC 34 14 13 20 33 31 18 16 KZN 29 21 17 GT 22 30 12 43 24 25 10 WC 6 7 3 MP/NW/LIMP 11 9 8 4 5 FS/NC/APOPS TOTAL 120 113 98 72 171 112 94 73 58

Escape Trends

Escape Trends

Measures to reduce escapes Intolerance towards negligence/collusion by officials with instant dismissal (eg. Special Assignment Report – Corrupt officials Pretoria immediately dismissed) Where criminal involvement of officials is suspected, cases are handed over to SAPS Improved sharing of information with other security agencies, eg. NIA, Crime intelligence Vetting of staff – Business Process Analysis by NIA and establishment of DCS field vetting units currently in process

Measures to reduce escapes (continued) Increased use of Departmental Investigation Unit (DIU) for investigation of high profile incidents instead of Management Area investigation teams Security Technology projects eg. Inmate Tracking Video Postponement Integrated Security Systems

Measures to reduce escapes (continued) Launching of Operation Vala on 27 November 2007 at Ebongweni (Kokstad) Correctional Centre aimed at: Special and tightened security actions by Management Areas Drastic enhancement of security at access control points Confinement of high risk inmates and minimization of their movements

Measures to reduce escapes (continued) The transfer and incarceration of long term high risk inmates to Ebongweni Correctional Centre for high risk inmates The establishment of Correctional Centres for the incarceration of long term high risk inmates in all regions – currently being processed

Filling up of Ebongweni DCS criteria for selection of offenders to be tranferred to Ebongweni Murder with aggravating circumstances Prisoners declared dangerous by the court Prisoner sentenced for acts of terrorism Serious sexual offences involving life threatening levels of violence. This include gang rape and sexual offences against children Offences of armed robbery involving life threatening levels of violence or which resulted in loss of life/disability Where the prosecutng authorities have indicated that a prisoner is a member of a well resourced criminal gang prepared to use extreme violence/firearms in an escape attempt

Filling up of Ebongweni DCS criteria for selection of offenders to be tranferred to Ebongweni Murder with aggravating circumstances Offenders declared dangerous by the court Offenders sentenced for acts of terrorism Serious sexual offences involving life threatening levels of violence. This include gang rape and sexual offences against children Offences of armed robbery involving life threatening levels of violence or which resulted in loss of life/disability Where the prosecuting authorities have indicated that a offender is a member of a well resourced criminal gang prepared to use extreme violence/firearms in an escape attempt

TRANSFERS TO BE EFFECTED BEFORE 15 NOV 2007 CRITERIA TOTAL Murder 130 Rape 38 Robbery 30 Escape 1 Assault intentional 200

Thank you “An age of hope, a national effort for corrections, rehabilitation and social integration”