Media Statements

Minister Lamola to officially open upgraded high security C-Max Correctional Facility and host Under the Tree Dialogue

05 December 2019

Minister of Justice and Correctional Service, Ronald Lamola, will officially open the newly upgraded C-Max High Security Correctional Facility and host Under the Tree Dialogue, at Kgosi Mampuru II Management Area, in Tshwane, on Friday (06 December 2019).

The upgraded maximum correctional centre has a bed space of 284. High security risk offenders are incarcerated at this state of the art facility and their period of stay can range between three and eighteen months. During imprisonment, they undertake various rehabilitation programmes aimed at addressing their violent behaviour and high risk category. Offenders are closely monitored at C-Max and are not allowed contact visitors. Once on the path to rehabilitation, they are then placed in different correctional centres across the country.

Minister Lamola says the Department of Correctional Services is committed to the effective rehabilitation of high risk offenders in a secure environment where they will not pose any threat to society, officials and other offenders so that their behaviour can be corrected through relevant programmes.

Minister Lamola will also host Under the Tree Dialogue targeted at men and boys which is intended to create a space for male participants to introspect on the harmful realities and effects of Gender Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF).

These dialogues will be undertaken across the country to vigorously  engage with men and boys to change patriarchal attitudes and beliefs, in particular, which tends to contribute to gender inequality -  a factor which contributes towards gender based violence and femicide.
The dialogues seek to re-socialise men by introducing alternative gender norms and aim in the long term, to shift society towards taking a preventative, rather than a responsive stance towards GBVF.

The dialogues form part of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development programme to respond to government’s National Emergency Response Plan to GBVF, as announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa.  They also form part of a series of interventions being undertaken by the Department as part of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children which runs from 25 November to 10 December 2019.  

Media is invited to cover the events as follows:
Date: Friday, 08 December 2019
Venue: Kgosi Mampuru Correctional II Correctional Centre, Tshwane
Time: 10h00

Media Confirmations:
Sechaba Mphahlele, Media Liaison Officer - 083 290 9959

Enquiries:
Chrispin Phiri, Spokesperson - 081 781 2261
CPhiri@justice.gov.za