SA's Moyane re-elected Acsa secretary
2010-09-16 13:24
Johannesburg - Newly-appointed correctional services national commissioner Tom Moyane was re-elected secretary of the African Correctional Services Association (Acsa) at a conference in Ghana this week.
"The re-election of South Africa, unopposed by 18 member states of Acsa, is a welcomed indication of trust and confidence these countries have in South Africa," Moyane said in a statement on Thursday.
The announcement of his re-election came during the biennial Acsa conference in Accra, Ghana which began on September 13 and would end on Friday.
Moyane said he would ensure Acsa addressed problems, including overcrowding, facing prisons on the continent in an "effective and sustainable way".
"There are massive numbers of awaiting-trial detainees [in prison] that in some countries make up about 90% of inmates."
Conference delegates were given a tour of a correctional facility in Ghana.
"[It] was built to accommodate 750 inmates, but houses 3 400 inmates in conditions that are absolutely unacceptable. The facility is also very old and dilapidated. We welcome the construction of a new facility for accommodating 2 500 maximum offenders to help alleviate overcrowding."
The conference succeeded in constructing a five-year strategic plan to solve problems, and detailed operation plans for the first year. He added that the conference was historic in that new countries, like Northern and Southern Sudan, participated.
- SAPA
