Experts are continuing to refine the norms and standards for secure care centres, taking into account both the importance of physical safety within the facilities and the protection of sensitive information.
The Department of Social Development is currently hosting a two-day workshop in Pretoria focusing on strengthening standards in secure care centres. These care centres are specialised child and youth care facilities designed to provide structured interventions for children in conflict with the law.
Unlike conventional correctional facilities, these centres prioritise rehabilitation, education and therapeutic support, ensuring that children are reintegrated into society with improved life skills and a renewed sense of responsibility.
Speaking at the workshop aimed at strengthening policies that uphold the children's rights and dignity, Social Development’s Security Manager, Len Esterhuizen, stressed the urgent need for the South African Police Service (SAPS) to play an active role in shaping security protocols for secure care centres.
“Secure care centres must align with national security standards to protect children, staff and sensitive data from breaches or potential threats,” Esterhuizen said on Tuesday.
Secure care across the board
A major component of helping secure care centres to align with national security standards is the Integrated Justice System (IJS), which has provided the Department of Social Development with a critical tool for managing children in conflict with the law.
The Probation Case Management System enables probation officers to track, assess and manage cases efficiently, ensuring appropriate intervention and placement.
Given the interconnected nature of child justice processes, the integration of the South African Police Service (SAPS) into these policy discussions has become essential.
The IJS’s mandate is part of the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster’s broader mission to enhance the safety and security of all South Africans. The cluster also works to protect against cybercrime and identity theft, improve access to civil justice, combat corruption and strengthen the process for issuing enabling documents.
Esterhuizen explained that SAPS operates under minimum physical security standards, which outline baseline requirements for facility security.
Within the IJS, the State Security Agency provides oversight on national information security policies, which regulate the classification, handling and storage of sensitive records, including ID documentation, criminal records and case files.
The minimum information security standards, enforced by the State Security Agency and SAPS’s minimum physical security standards provide an important framework for safeguarding both information and operations within secure care facilities.
Esterhuizen further explained that secure information storage is non-negotiable, as mandatory policies dictate how children’s records must be handled and protected.
Experts also highlighted the importance of confidentiality and strict security protocols in preventing criminal activities, security breaches and potential risks to children in secure care centres.
The department’s Social Work Policy Manager, Linda Makhathini, commended the progressive discussions, emphasising their critical role in ensuring full compliance for secure care centres.
She noted that security experts will contribute to developing a unified security framework, which will define minimum requirements for facility security, staff protocols, and information protection.
A national security framework for secure care
As discussions progress, the goal is to develop a national security framework that ensures compliance with both physical and information security regulations.
By combining the IJS, SAPS, and the State Security Agency and the Department of Social Development aim to establish a safer, more efficient system that upholds the rights and dignity of children in secure care.
“This work will form a legal document that will be officially published once authorised by the Minister [of Social Development]. It will then be gazetted for public comment before final implementation,” Senior Legal Officer, Advocate Luyanda Mtshotshisa, said.
Bridging gaps in secure care services
Chief Director of Social Welfare and Restorative Services in the Western Cape, Leana Goosen, who is part of the task team, highlighted the significance of these evolving norms and standards.
“Secure care is one of the most critical services rendered by the Department of Social Development, yet it has lacked extensive legislative guidance. These new norms and standards will fill that gap and empower staff in secure care to deliver better services. We are pleased to be part of this essential development,” she said.
As South Africa moves forward in modernising its child justice system, these reforms will ensure that secure care centres operate effectively, securely and in full alignment with national policies, creating a safer and more rehabilitative environment for children. – SAnews.gov.za
