{"id":11147,"date":"2026-07-21T10:25:48","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T10:25:48","guid":{"rendered":"\/?page_id=11147"},"modified":"2026-07-21T10:25:49","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T10:25:49","slug":"dcs-benchmarks-self-sufficiency-and-skills-development-with-namibian-correctional-service","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"\/?page_id=11147","title":{"rendered":"DCS Benchmarks Self-Sufficiency and Skills Development with Namibian Correctional Service"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-07-21-at-12.17.49-1024x682.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11157\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-07-21-at-12.17.49-1024x682.jpeg 1024w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-07-21-at-12.17.49-300x200.jpeg 300w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-07-21-at-12.17.49-768x512.jpeg 768w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-07-21-at-12.17.49-400x267.jpeg 400w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-07-21-at-12.17.49.jpeg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A Department of Correctional Services (DCS) delegation has completed a five-day benchmarking visit to the Namibian Correctional Service (NCS) to assess self-sufficiency programmes and strengthen bilateral cooperation on correctional training priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The visit, held from 6 to 10 July 2026, formed part of ongoing collaboration between the two correctional services to exchange best practices that support offender rehabilitation, skills development and institutional self-sufficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>National Commissioner, Mr Makgothi Thobakgale approved the delegation, which comprised Ms Machel Kruger, Area Commissioner: Baviaanspoort (Gauteng Region); Mr Mandla Gwambe, Area Commissioner: Witbank (Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West Region); Mr Sandile Mthembu, Director: Employee Wellness (Human Resources Management and Development); and Ms Cynthia Lepule, Director: Production Workshops and Agriculture (Incarceration and Corrections).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Namibian Correctional Service Commissioner General Raphael Hamunyela and his executive management welcomed the delegation before they commenced assessments at the Windhoek Correctional Facility and later at Evaristus Shikongo Correctional Facility in Tsumeb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During the benchmarking exercise, the delegation assessed a wide range of production workshops and vocational training facilities, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Metal works and fabrication<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Motor mechanics<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Upholstery and woodwork<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fashion and fabric production<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Arts and crafts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shoe manufacturing and leather processing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bakery operations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Animal production<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The team also engaged with trainers, technical educators and offenders to evaluate programme sustainability, income-generation opportunities and skills development initiatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to the site assessments, the delegation participated in the Joint Technical Team (JTT) meeting, where representatives from both countries reviewed existing training priorities and jointly developed training priorities for the 2027\u20132029 period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Delegates adopted these priorities, which will be presented during the Fourth Bilateral National Commission (BNC) Session scheduled to take place in Pretoria from 14 to 17 July 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Drawing from DCS expertise, the delegation made several recommendations to strengthen the Namibian Correctional Service&#8217;s self-sufficiency programmes, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Improving Occupational Health and Safety compliance<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Expanding the marketing of correctional products and services<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Strengthening partnerships with prospective employers to support offender reintegration<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Investing in advanced production equipment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Enhancing skills transfer within vocational workshops<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improving maintenance of production machinery<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Expanding production opportunities, including manufacturing offender bedding, towels and officials&#8217; uniforms<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The visit also yielded valuable lessons to further strengthen DCS operations. Key practices identified include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Recognising prior learning to improve offender participation in accredited training programmes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Creating dedicated Technical Educator posts to reduce reliance on outsourced vocational training<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reviewing offender gratuity payments according to skills levels<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Strengthening artisan recruitment and retention<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Increasing in-house maintenance of machinery and equipment to reduce operational costs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Equipping artisans with Assessor and Moderator qualifications to enhance training quality<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The Joint Technical Team resolved to monitor the implementation of agreed action plans every six months, ensuring continuous collaboration between the two correctional services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The knowledge gained during the benchmarking visit will be shared across the Department through internal communication platforms and presentations to relevant branches and committees. This will enable DCS to strengthen its offender rehabilitation programmes, improve production workshops and advance its self-sufficiency objectives in support of a safer South Africa.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Department of Correctional Services (DCS) delegation has completed a five-day benchmarking visit to the Namibian Correctional Service (NCS) to assess self-sufficiency programmes and strengthen bilateral cooperation on correctional training priorities. The visit, held from 6 to 10 July 2026,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2851,"featured_media":11157,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11147"}],"collection":[{"href":"\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2851"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11147"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11147\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11158,"href":"\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11147\/revisions\/11158"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/11157"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11147"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}