POLOKWANE – The Limpopo Department of Social Development has taken over the Mavambe and Polokwane Secure Care Centres, formerly known as juvenile correctional facilities, from Bosas (African Global Operations) with effect from 1 November 2019.
This follows a termination of the contract by the service provider Bosasa, after it approached the High Court for liquidation in August this year.
The Department has appointed 155 former Bosasa employees on a three-month contract as advised by the Department of Public Service and Administration. The regulation gives the executive authority the power to appoint persons additional to the establishment for a period not exceeding 12 consecutive calendar months. Their contracts are effective from 1 November.
In a statement issued by the Department of Social Development, Spokesperson Witness Tiva said the two secure care centres currently accommodate 180 children in conflict with the law.
They have been placed under three categories namely awaiting trial, diversion programme and social work services.
“The task team that comprised different internal stakeholders, including labour, worked around the clock with the national ministries of Social Development and Public Service and Administration, to ensure that there is a smooth transition of the services that are being rendered at the two centres. We are indeed satisfied that the transition of the facilities from Bosasa to the provincial Department of Social Development went through without any major hiccups.”
“What is important to note is that we will also be able to cut costs as we are working towards in-sourcing all the services that are being rendered at the centres. The department is currently working on a long-term plan which will be implemented when the three months contracts of the employees lapse, to ensure that the two centres operate effectively,” said the MEC, Nkakareng Rakgoale.
