Department of Correctional Services (DCS) senior managers have gathered at Leeuwkop Management Area in Gauteng Region for the second day of Strategic Planning Session today, 26 November 2024. Another core of Senior Management Service (SMS) members are attending the session virtually, as part of measures to save costs.
The three-day session from 25 to 27 November 2024 affords Management an opportunity to engage in intensive discussion and activities in a collaborative and inclusive manner as they fine-tune and consolidate the roadmap into envisioned future for the Department.
Today’s activities feature three simultaneous break away sessions focusing on the review of Vision, Mission and Values, Internal/External environment and Theory of Change.
As the current five-year plan will end on 31 March 2025, the Vision, Mission and Values must be reviewed to determine its relevance for the new Five-Year Strategic Plan.
In August 2024, DCS through Strategic Management Branch ran a survey for officials to have inputs in the review of the department’s vision, mission and values. Of those who participated in the survey, 71 out of 328 indicated that the vision should be reviewed while 53 identified a need to change the mission of the Department, and went further to also make recommendations on the values of the department. This consultative exercise ensured that officials responses and inputs are taken into consideration prior to the finalisation of the process to review the vision, mission and values of the department.
The existing vision, mission and values of the Department, which are under review reads as follows:
- Vision: “Providing the best correctional services for a safer South Africa”
- Mission: “Contributing to a just, peaceful and safer South Africa through effective and humane incarceration of inmates and the rehabilitation and social reintegration of offenders”
- Values: Development, integrity, excellence and accountability
SWOT analysis is one of the most reliable strategic tools of analysis for organisations to diagnose the strengths and weaknesses as well as identifying opportunities and threats arising out of internal and externally factors. Managers are also conducting this strategic analysis to determine DCS favourable and unfavourable factors using PESTLE (Political, Economic, Social, Technical, Legal and Environmental) analysis.
The third commission is dealing with the theory of change in the planning process to ensure that the Department is moving towards the attainment of the impact expressing the long term changes the department would like to achieve. The three-day session concludes tomorrow with an address by Deputy Minister of Correctional Services, Lindiwe Ntshalintshali.