What specific urgent actions has his department taken to (a) address staff shortages and (b) implement robust disciplinary proceedings against implicated senior managers and officials at the correctional facilities in the Western Cape?
Official source
Source domain: pmg.org.za
Collected on 17 June 2026
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Learnership Programme (entry-level correctional officials)
The Department of Correctional Services plans to recruit and train entry-level correctional officials through the Correctional Services Learnership Programme from 2025 through to 2030, with learners absorbed into funded security and rehabilitation vacancies to reduce vacancy rates.
- Who it is for
- prospective entry-level correctional officials (learners)
- How to act on it
- Apply to participate in the Correctional Services Learnership Programme; upon successful completion, learners are absorbed into funded security and rehabilitation vacancies.
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The DCS has already begun large-scale recruitment drives, including plans to recruit and train entry-level correctional officials through the learnership programme from 2025 right through to 2030.
Targeted recruitment for scarce skills (pilot)
The department intends to pilot targeted recruitment for scarce skills in compliance with DPSA prescripts.
- Who it is for
- candidates with scarce skills relevant to correctional services
- How to act on it
- Participate in the targeted recruitment pilot when it is launched, in line with DPSA prescripts.
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The department intends to pilot targeted recruitment for scarce skills. This will be done in compliance with DPSA prescripts.
Vacant posts advertised, shortlisted and filled (recruitment of professionals and management)
Vacant posts are advertised as they become vacant, and the department reports that since the beginning of the financial year 2025/2026 it has advertised 1152 posts, shortlisted 933, and filled 395 posts.
- Who it is for
- members of the public applying for advertised correctional services vacancies
- How to act on it
- Apply for vacancies when they are advertised; posts are then shortlisted and filled.
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Vacant posts are advertised as they become vacant, to date a total of 1152 posts have been advertised, 933 shortlisted and 395 filled posts since the beginning of the financial year 2025/2026.
Community Service placements for Psychologists and Pharmacists
The department collaborates with the Department of Health to place qualified Psychologists and Pharmacists for Community Service in its facilities.
- Who it is for
- qualified Psychologists and Pharmacists available for Community Service placements in correctional facilities
- How to act on it
- Be placed through the collaboration between DCS and the Department of Health for Community Service in correctional facilities.
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DCS is collaborating with the Department of Health to place qualified Psychologists and Pharmacists for Community Service in our facilities.
E-recruitment system implementation (reduced hiring turnaround time)
The department will fully implement an e-recruitment system to reduce the average 4–6 month hiring turnaround time, as part of its recruitment drive to address staff shortages.
- Who it is for
- people applying for correctional services vacancies
- How to act on it
- Use the department’s e-recruitment system when it is implemented to apply for vacancies.
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The department will fully implement an e-recruitment system to reduce the average 4-6 month hiring turnaround time, which is a significant barrier to attracting top talent.
Disciplinary proceedings: officials charged for misconduct (Western Cape)
In the third quarter of 2025/26, 275 officials in the Western Cape were charged for committing acts of misconduct, with sanctions including dismissals, warnings, final written warnings, corrective counselling, and suspensions without salary.
- Who it is for
- implicated officials charged with misconduct in the Western Cape
- How to act on it
- Proceed through the disciplinary process after being charged; outcomes include finalised cases and pending cases, with sanctions issued.
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In the third Quarter of 2025/26 Financial Year, two hundred and seventy-five (275) officials were charged in the Western Cape for committing acts of misconduct, 218 were finalised and 57 are pending.
Facts
Places
Western Cape
Reference
https://pmg.org.za/committee-question/35990/
Key Takeaways
- question NW537
- Department: Correctional Services (DCS)
- location: Western Cape
- learnership programme: 2025–2030
- e-recruitment system
- vacancy rate target: below 10%
- collaboration: Department of Health
- placements: psychologists, pharmacists (community service)
- posts advertised: 1152
- posts shortlisted: 933
- posts filled: 395
- financial year: 2025/2026
- disciplinary actions: 275 officials charged
- period: third Quarter of 2025/26
Dates
Opening Date
5 March 2026