The Department of Correctional Services hosted the Minister of Justice from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ms Rose Mutombo Kiese from 03 to 04 April 2024.
The aim of the visit was to draw best practices on how South Africa is running its correctional system. The Boksburg Management Area and Mangaung Correctional Centre formed part of the sites visited by the Minister and her delegation.
The DRC is a fellow member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and South Africa (SA) is strongly committed to supporting the country’s long-term stability. SA views peace and stability in the DRC as a critical component for overall stability in the Great Lakes Region. Thus, as and when opportunities arise, this country is more than ready and willing to impart best practices on a number of thematic areas of development, growth, peace and security.
On behalf of the Department, acting Deputy Regional Commissioner of the Free State and Northern Cape region, Jacky Reid, welcomed the Democratic Republic of Congo for having considered DCS for a benchmarking visit. “Your visit is a vote of confidence in us as a country and our efficacy in running our correctional centres. Be that as it may, we are also going to learn from you as much as you are going to learn from us,” she said.
As part of the visit, Minister Kiese was taken through formal presentations wherein vital information on the overview and operations of both centres was shared, including the population and profiles of offenders, their countries of origin, categories of offences and age groups. The presentations also spoke about some of the services provided to inmates including health and psychological services, community projects as well as edu cation and training, to name a few.
The visit culminated in an all-encompassing tour of the two facilities through which Minister Kiese was exposed to different Self-Sufficiency and Sustainable Framework (SSSF) projects. Some of the projects visited in Boksburg include the bakery and production workshops, whilst the school, vegetable gardens, textile and candle making factories, the hospital, library and one of the units housing offenders, were visited in Mangaung.
Minister Kiese and her entourage expressed gratitude to DCS for the warm welcome and great hospitality. She commended South Africa in how its correctional facilities are run and appreciated the responses received from DCS officials addressing the pertinent questions that were asked by her delegation, which she believes will assist them back in DRC to better manage their facilities.
“South Africa is really doing a lot and there is so many areas of advancement one has amassed so much knowledge and insight on. This was such a fruitful visit for its results shall be beneficial to my native country. One is really drawing so much benefits from the mutual relations both our countries enjoy,” concluded Minister Kiese.
