NICRO, the National Institute for Crime Prevention and the Reintegration of Offenders, herewith declares its outrage and disappointment with the decision of the Department of Correctional Services to remove Commissioner Vernie Petersen from his position.

In his short tenure, Commissioner Petersen has demonstrated a strong flair for directing and managing the Department of Correctional Services to efficiency and effectiveness. The weaknesses of the Department over the years are well documented, and the task of the Department in providing custody and rehabilitation to the country’s worst criminals is no easy task. The Commissioner has been able to re-energise his executive team and has led from the front in systematically tackling each area of concern.

The Commissioner has also demonstrated his ability to be an honest broker, acknowledging gaps and weaknesses and not being unnecessarily defensive and obtrusive in respect to actual weaknesses or errors.

This action in removing Commissioner Petersen is regarded as a misguided and mistaken decision and a flagrant error in the face of the major existing demands for change and transformation of Correctional Services in our country.

Commissioner Petersen has worked tirelessly to address burning issues and problem zones within Correctional Services to start a refurbishing process from within. He has also introduced exciting innovations. One such example is the newly established stakeholder engagement exercise under his leadership. This afforded civil society organisations active in the field of corrections authentic opportunities to engage and partner with the Department in undertaking much needed services towards rehabilitation and reintegration, to enable the strengthening of the Department’s own endeavours. NICRO has welcomed these innovations.

NICRO regards this decision as a major setback to the action undertaken to start penal reform in South Africa.

We acknowledge recent media reports regarding tension between the Minister and the Commissioner. No man is bigger than the cause he serves, and in this spirit we urge these important functionaries to demonstrate that which we teach our inmates, namely positive and constructive conflict resolution.

As a prominent service deliverer in rehabilitation and reintegration, NICRO commends the work performed by Commissioner Petersen and strongly urges the Department to review its decision.

Contact Karin Blumer for interviews at karin@nicro.co.za or 021 462 0017.