Regional commissioner and delegates visit Witbank Management Area
Carolina Centre is the centre currently used as an isolation site for the management area for presumptive offenders
The newly appointed Regional Commissioner Correctional Services, Mr Thokolo Tlabo visited Witbank Management Area.
The visit by the commissioner and his delegation were on Thursday, July 23 and on Friday, July 24.
The two-day visit started at Carolina Correctional Centre on Thursday, where the commissioner was introduced by the Deputy Regional Commissioner, Mr Ndema Raynold to the Area Commissioner of Witbank, Reverend Mandla Sibanyoni and his executive.
Carolina Centre is the centre currently used as an isolation site for the management area for presumptive offenders.
The entourage swiftly moved to Belfast Correctional Centre, a dedicated short term facility where the commissioner was shown through the agricultural sites.
He also had one on one talks with sentenced offenders inside the courtyard.
The last centre that was visited the Middelburg Centre of Excellence.
During this visit, the commissioner was able to engage with the female offenders; both remand detainees and sentenced as he addressed them briefly on Covid-19 regulations.
He commended the head of the centre for the cleanliness which was observed inside the centre.
Witbank Correctional Centre was visited on Friday morning which started with a briefing session from each directorate.
The first stop was the production workshops which produces offender clothing.
The commissioner was guided through on the operations at the factories.
Part of the production cycle is the warehouse where all the material is stored before it is distributed to the relevant stakeholders.
“We must not be shy to call people to account for work which they are appointed to do,” said the commissioner in his remarks at the briefing session.
Mr Thokolo informed the delegation on the impact of Covid19, he indicated that officials needed to abide by the regulations set and not deviate.
He also raised his concerns sternly on officials who deliberately ignore isolation rules and gallivant the streets after testing positive for Covid-19.
The visit was an eye-opener for the management area as the commissioner would comment and advise from time to time whenever he noticed something amiss and he applauded the officials with the good work done.
