Minister of Correctional Services Dr Pieter Groenewald has vowed more aggressive action against prison smuggling and misbehaviour.

Speaking in Parliament at the tabling of the department’s budget vote, Groenewald said that this continued a commitment made last year.

“During the last budget debate,” he said, “I committed to more unannounced visits and raids, and we have met that promise. In the previous budget vote, I announced that 466 raids had been conducted. From then, we have significantly expanded our efforts, increasing the number of raids to 1 406 – a 200% increase. This resulted in the confiscation of more than 37 500 cellphones and other contraband.”

He went on to say that over the December and January holiday period (the annual Operation Vala), raids in prisons across the country had netted 8 000 cellphones and R102 700 in cash, plus numerous other items such as weapons.

“Remarkably, there were no escapes during Operation Vala,” he added.

He said that it would be wrong to see the confiscation as evidence of a failure to exercise control over facilities. Rather, they showed the resolve of the department to deal with illegal activity. “Those involved in smuggling should understand their days are numbered,” Groenewald said.

Correctional officers were expected to demonstrate a commitment to the highest professional standards, to stand firm against criminality and the organisations that perpetrate it (often threatening officers), and not to let down their colleagues who were working honourably in hazardous conditions.

For this reason, he said, “it is essential to act swiftly and decisively against corruption to safeguard these individuals and to reaffirm trust in our institutions”.

There would, for example, be a zero-tolerance attitude towards the smuggling of cellphones into prisons.

“Discipline, accountability, and ethical conduct are non-negotiable,” Groenewald said.

Some 2 388 officials were subjected to disciplinary hearings during the past year; 289 officials were suspended and 118 dismissed over this period.