1. Presentation to Portfolio Committee on
Escapes in DCS
13 November 2007

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

3. 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

4. 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

6. Trends of escape in DCS over the last 10 years

7. Escape Trends for the past three years
ESCAPES: CALANDER YEAR
ESCAPES: FINANCIAL YEAR
2005
2006
1 Jan - 30 Nov 06
1 Jan Nov 07
2004/ 2005
2005/ 2006
2006/ 2007
1 April Nov 2006
1 April 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

8. Escape Trends

9. Escape Trends

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

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

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