Description: The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (Act No. 108 of 1996) lays the basis for the mandate of the Department of Correctional Services. The Constitution compels the Department to comply with the following sections in terms of the treatment of offenders: Equality, Human dignity, Freedom and security of the person, Right to health care service, Children’s rights, Right to education, Freedom of religion, Rights to humane treatment and to communicate and be visited by family, next of kin etc.
The Act seeks to provide amongst others, for a correctional system; the establishment, functions and control of the Department of Correctional Services; the custody of all offenders under conditions of human dignity; the rights and obligations of sentenced offenders; the rights and obligations of unsentenced offenders; a system of community corrections; release from correctional centres and placement under correctional supervision, on day parole and parole; a National Council for Correctional Services; a Judicial Inspectorate; Independent Correctional Centre Visitors; repeal and amendment of certain laws; and matters connected therewith.