Commission for Gender Equality undertakes oversight visit to Worcester Women’s Correctional Service Centre, 6 to 7 Nov

On the 06 & 07 November 2023, the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) will undertake an oversight visit to the Worcester Women's Correctional Service Centre in the Western Cape. The visit is a follow up oversight initiative following the study conducted at this centre a few years ago. The study focused on the health and wellness of female inmates. Overcrowding remained a central issue, especially with its implications for the spread of diseases. In this study the Commission reported that there were not enough services and resources to detect and treat illnesses, especially mental health challenges which were common amongst women. These were a few of the challenges we recorded.

Upon the conclusion of the oversight visits, the Commission will hold the investigative public hearings to address the outcomes of our oversight includes: -

• Analyse the challenges faced by the Department in relation to infrastructure.
• Analyse statistics and the conditions on overcrowding.
• Examine the security provided to inmates.
• Examine healthcare services including facilities,
• Monitor operations.
• Assess the impact of budgetary constraints on the human dignity of the inmates
• Analyse the process of admittance to a correctional centre.
• Advocate for Victim centred processes for parole hearings.

Date Correctional Services
06 November 2023 Worcester Women's Correctional Services
07 November 2023 Worcester Men's Correctional Services

Contact Person: Javu Baloyi (Spokesperson)
Email: Javu @cge.org.za and [email protected](link sends e-mail)
Cell: 083 579 3306