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Dennis Bloem, chairperson of portfolio committee for correctional services in parliament, addressing staff within the department.
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Corruption in
prison slated |
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| By Richard Nkosi |
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Dennis Bloem, chairperson of portfolio committee for correctional services in parliament, visited Barberton Correction Services last week and urged personnel to expose corruption.
Bloem and other members of the committee familiarized themselves with, and identify problems facing the various prison farms. Those in Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Northwest were visited.
Personnel at the local prison raised their concerns on matters such as the shortage of staff, overcrowding, the overtime system, fraud in their medical aid scheme, promotions at work, reinstating of the 34-Popcru members sacked last year and lack of inconsistency by management when it came to disciplinary measures imposed. |
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Responding to the concerns, Bloem send a stern warning to any member who might be found guilty of an offence.
"It is apparent that corruption still remains a very serious problem, but I want to ensure that out aim is to rid us of these people who are the reason that other members suffer," he said.
In connection with overtime during weekends, he said that the situation will be addressed but a solution would not be found overnight.
Bloem concluded by encouraging open communication channels between the top management in the DCS and staff at grassroots level.
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| By Richard Nkosi |
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A puzzling discovery was made at a Barberton Correctional services Maximum storeroom last Wednesday when personnel received a tip-off of a gun hidden in a single cell.
According to Sarie Peens, regional communication co-ordinator, a surprise search was conducted by officials from the correctional facility. They discovered the 7.65 firearm with nine rounds of ammunition, hidden in a storeroom in the single section.
Peens dismissed allegations that the gun was smuggled into the cells during the weekend.
She said that after sacking of warders at the local prison, others had been deployed since December.
A case has been reported to the Barberton police services but the Department of Correctional Services will conduct an investigation.
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Love
is in the air |
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Valentine's Day will be
celebrated on February 14.
The florists and most of the
shops in town are decorated
with red roses, hearts, teddy bears
and all kind of goodies that you
can buy for your loved one.
Natalie du Plooy, with a bunch
of red roses from Violets
has no special wish for
Valentine's Day but she wouldn't
mind to receive a bunch
of red roses. |
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United
on the Net |
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Last week an article appeared in the Barberton Times to inform the public that the main news of the newspaper
could now be read on the gerbera website. Umvubu, in Nelspruit who grows gerberas, donated flowers and with the help
of Volkmar Seifert, handed them out to the public with our newspaper and a card supplying the website address.
On the photograph are two lucky women receiving gerberas. (From left) are Laetitia Koch, Tersia Buyskes
(Barberton Times sales representative), Jeanette Robson and Volkmar Seifert (Gerbera Association).
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