Appointment of Independent Prison Visitors Northern Cape and North West Provinces

PRIVATE BAG X9177 TEL: (021) 421-1012 / 3 / 4 / 5 CAPE TOWN FAX: (021) 418-1069 8000 E-Mail:[email protected] Website: www.judicialinsp.gov.za

MEDIA STATEMENT CALLING FOR NOMINATIONS FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT PRISON VISITORS IN GAUTENG, LIMPOPO AND MPUMALANGA PROVINCES

The Judicial Inspectorate of Prisons is an independent office, under the control of the Inspecting Judge, established in terms of Section 85 of the Correctional Services Act 111 of 1998. The core business of the Judicial Inspectorate of Prisons is to conduct independent, efficient and effective monitoring of prisons and to promote prisoners’ detention under conditions of human dignity.

In order to achieve this objective, the Inspecting Judge appoints Independent Prison Visitors (IPV’s) in all prisons.

The main duty of an Independent Prison Visitor is to deal with the complaints of prisoners by:

 Regular visits to the prison.  Interviewing prisoners.  Recording complaints and monitoring the manner in which they are dealt with.  Discussing complaints with the Head of Prison with a view to resolve them internally.

The Judicial Inspectorate of Prisons successfully completed the appointment of Independent Prison Visitors (IPV’s) in all the provinces on July 2002. By July 2002, altogether 182 IPV’s have been appointed nationally in the 234 IPV posts on the

037la approved post establishment. As an organisation, we are very proud of this achievement and like to express our gratitude to all the role players who made a contribution to the appointment of IPV’s in all the provinces.

The breakdown of the IPV appointments (per province) is as follows:

. Eastern Cape 31 . Free State 29 . Gauteng 47 . KwaZulu-Natal 33 . Limpopo 7 . Mpumalanga 21 . North West 15 . Northern Cape 15 . Western Cape 36

Appointments: 234

Generally speaking, all role-players, especially Area Managers, Heads of Prison and other Officials of the Department of Correctional Services, have given overwhelming support to IPV’s in the execution of their official duties. This has enabled IPV’s, most of whom do not have any prior experience of the prison environment, to facilitate the humane treatment of prisoners and improvement of prison conditions.

Presently, the Judicial Inspectorate is embarking on a process of re-appointing IPV’s in Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces. It is envisaged that public-spirited persons of integrity who are interested in the promotion of the social responsibility and human development of prisoners will be appointed as Independent Prison Visitors.

037la Independent Prison Visitors are appointed on contractual basis for a period of 12 months and are remunerated at a rate of R38.65 per hour.

 Persons who are in the full-time or part-time employment of the state i.e. Public Service may not apply.  Proof of community work and affiliation to an NGO will add value to your nomination.

The Inspecting Judge herewith invites interested persons or organisations to attend any one of the following public meetings:

16 Sept 2002: 9am: Volksrust Prison 16 Sept 2002: 9am: Piet Retief Prison 16 Sept 2002: 2pm: Standerton Prison 16 Sept 2002: 2pm: Ermelo Prison

17 Sept 2002: 9am: Bethal Prison 17 Sept 2002: 9am: Carolina Prison 17 Sept 2002: 2pm: Witbank Prison 17 Sept 2002: 2pm: Middleburg Prison

18 Sept 2002: 9am: Belfast Prison 18 Sept 2002: 9am: Barberton Prison 18 Sept 2002: 2pm: Lydenburg Prison 18 Sept 2002: 2pm: Nelspruit Prison 19 Sept 2002: 9am: Polokwane Prison 19 Sept 2002: 9am: Louis Trichardt Prison 19 Sept 2002: 2pm: Tzaneen Prison 19 Sept 2002: 1pm: Thohoyandou Prison

20 Sept 2002: 9am: Modimolle Prison 20 Sept 2002: 9am: Baviaanspoort Prison 20 Sept 2002: 2pm: Pretoria Prison 20 Sept 2002: 2pm: Zonderwater Prison

21 Sept 2002: 9am: Krugersdorp Prison 21 Sept 2002: 9am: Johannesburg Prison

23 Sept 2002: 9am: Boksburg Prison 23 Sept 2002: 9am: Modderbee Prison 23 Sept 2002: 2pm: Nigel Prison 23 Sept 2002: 2pm: Heidelberg Prison

Note: nomination forms (JI 104) will be distributed at these meetings. Forms are also obtainable on our web site: http:// judicialinsp.pwv.gov.za. and can on request be posted to applicants. Faxed copies will not be considered. Submit completed nomination forms to the following address:

037la ALL NOMINATION FORMS MUST BE POSTED TO:

Judicial Inspectorate Office of the Inspecting Judge Private Bag X9177 CAPE TOWN 8000

Contact persons: Mr. M. Prusent and Ms Z. Erasmus at tel. 021-421 1014

E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected] Closing date: 11 October 2002