Acting National Commissioner Mandla Mkabela, joined by other senior managers, yesterday (3 August 2020) welcomed newly-appointed Chief Deputy Commissioner (CDC): Incarceration and Corrections, Mr. Samuel Makgothi Thobakgale, to the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) at a special ceremony at Kgosi Mampuru II Management Area. Other DCS senior managers across the country were also able to join the welcoming ceremony via virtual platforms.
Mr. Mkabela said that CDC Thobakgale was bringing a wealth of experience in public administration to DCS. He said his expertise in strategic planning, change management and public policy should mould the Department as an institution geared towards achieving excellence. The acting National Commissioner further alluded to calls by President Cyril Ramaphosa for the most senior echelon of the public service to move with speed and determination in implementing measures required to turnaround the economy. He said the Department strongly believed that Mr. Thobakgale’s capabilities and experience will give DCS the edge that will recalibrate the rehabilitation drive of inmates in the country.
CDC Thobakgale was also welcomed by fellow CDCs who wished him well in his new endeavour. CDC: Human Resources, Adv Moeketsi Mashibini said the Department was happy to be joined by an expert especially in the field of infrastructure development. He said they are optimistic that Mr. Thobakgale will help unlock challenges that DCS encounters in this respect.
The CDC: InCo said he understood that the Branch: Incarceration and Corrections played a pivotal role in discharging the mandate of the department, but emphasized his view that it can only excel within an integrated and supportive context within the organisation. “I want to pledge that all the experience that I have gathered in the public service and otherwise, I will apply here in collaboration with my colleagues,” he said.
Mr Thobakgale takes on a key portfolio in the Department, at a challenging time, which requires innovation and expertise to redefine and take corrections forward. Previously, he held various top management positions before joining DCS on 1 August 2020. He has also been with the Department of Public Works for a number of years, where he served in various portfolios.