Before 1994 the Department of Correctional Services was not representative of
South African demography in terms of race, gender and disability. The challenge
faced by the post-1994 Department of Correctional Services was to bring about
change. The Department had to accept this challenge with full awareness of
past and continuing discriminatory policies and practices and inadequate service
delivery (Department of Correctional Services: Equity Policy, 1999:2).
This study investigated the role of transformation in the reform of policies in the
provision, maintenance and education, training and development of personnel in
the Department of Correctional Services: Pretoria Central Prison. A qualitative
research method was used in the study. The study involved survey
questionnaires, survey interviews, a review of the relevant literature on the
research topic and observation.
The study shows that there has been an increase in the representation of blacks
(coloureds and Africans) and women in the staff at Pretoria Central Prison. It is
recommended that the Prison focus on increasing the representation of Indians
and disabled persons to achieve the goals of transformation even further.
