DCA establishes professional council

Johannesburg - The correctional services department (DCS) has been allowed to establish a professional council for corrections, it said on Wednesday.

"Professionalising the public service is a top priority for government, as this is linked to improving the quality of service delivery," said chief deputy commissioner of incarceration and corrections, James Smalberger.

He was speaking at a graduation ceremony of 446 control room operators, at the Zonderwater Training College in Gauteng, who completed a correctional services learnership programme.

In February, the department received endorsement from Treasury to proceed with the establishment of a professional council for corrections.

The council would be established over the next three financial years and would ensure, amongst others, that correctional officials were competent.