By Siphosethu Dlamini | 2024-08-04

His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS) Commissioner General (ComGen) Lamakhosini Phindile Dlamini has identified overcrowding in local facilities as the prominent challenge faced by the Correctional Service.

Making her remarks Dlamini said: “Overcrowding remains our greatest challenge, rehabilitation and re-integration agenda and needs collaboration in the criminal justice system to utilise the available legislative provisions to reduce the numbers. Overcrowding burdens the limited scarce skills and resources,” said Dlamini

The commissioner general further thanked courts for dealing urgently with cases of inmates in the fight against the high numbers of people in jail.

“We are grateful for the good relationship and support from our courts. which also play a huge role in addressing this impasse,” she said

Attesting to the high numbers of congested facilities was Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Prince Simelane, who mentioned that the country had a facility to accommodate 2 660 offenders yet they have 4 300 kept within local facilities taking the overcrowding to 62 per cent
In addition, the commissioner general thanked their Majesties for the appointment of the minister

“We are grateful to His Majesty King Mswati III for the appointment of our new minister of justice and constitutional affairs Prince Simelane”.

Dlamini said the ministry of justice had contributed immensely in accelerating the transformation of His Majesty's Correctional Services, particularly by developing policies, which are meant to transform the entire criminal justice system, thereby aligning it with and values enshrined in the Constitution and the culture of human rights.

HMCS operates under the theme: ‘Enhancing Stakeholder Relations and Community Corrections and Social Cohesion’, which the commissioner general said speaks largely to the efforts made by the department to maintain and retain good partnerships with members of the public as major stakeholders in the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders.

Dlamini said the speed and commitment that they had put forth in cementing these partnerships left no room for turning back as the success of communities entirely depended on such collaborations.

opportunity
“May I take this opportunity to extend gratitude to all non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating with and within our correctional centres in ensuring the smooth reintegration of ex-offenders back to communities,” said Dlamini

The commissioner general further thanked all those working within the Correctional Services for their role in transforming offenders into good people, where the shift in policies and paradigm from prisons to corrections inculcated a new culture and mindset, whereby the community and victims were not overlooked but placed at the centre of the concept of restorative justice.

“May I also seize this opportunity to express appreciation to all officers within the department for their continued hard work and dedication. We commend you for choosing to work with men and women who are deprived of their liberty, many of whom have committed heinous crimes.

‘However, through your professional conduct, commitment and work ethic, you have been able to transform their lives.  Officers have been able to transfer the values and skills of the good citizenry to ensure that they return to society as socially-responsible and law-abiding citizens’ said the commissioner general.

Correctional Services Day tops Police Day – Spectators 

The Correctional Services Day came out tops when compared to the Police Day in the manner of drill displays.

This was a view of some individuals who attended the Police Day at the Police Academy a month ago and were also present at the Correctional Services Day and Passing Out Parade yesterday, both in Matsapha. Both security forces showcased parades and drill skills that wowed spectators.   

Bishop Mavovo Mkhonto, who serves in one of the King’s councils, when asked to make a comparison between the two forces since he had also attended the Police Day, felt that their Correctional counterparts were winners this year.

He said the police were impressive too but the energy and style exhibited by the correctional officers was just on a slightly higher level. His Majesty King Mswati III interpreter Sihle Dlamini was asked the same question, and his response was that indeed the Correctional Services was amazingly impressive with their drills, but mainly because they built up from where the Police Service had left off.

A spectator in the crowd by the name of Tengetile Middleton said if she had her own way, she would have requested that the Correctional Services Day be held again this year, because of the great drill performances she witnessed.

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