According to a report in Die Burger, Correctional Services Portfolio Committee chair Vincent Smith (ANC) also questioned the need for the inspectorate, arguing many organisations perform the same function. 'Why must we duplicate? All the organisations investigate the same thing, why don't they merge with the Human Rights Commission?' The report says the Inspectorate facilitates visits to correctional centres for the Inspecting Judge of Prisons to compile a report on conditions. James Selfe (DA) said he didn't believe Chapter 9 Institutions have the skills and capacity to monitor prisons with more than 160 000 detainees. 'It will be a shame if the infrastructure the inspectorate has built up over the years is undone.' Judge Vuka Tshabalala, head of the inspectorate, said the institution could not be done away with as it performs an important function. Full report in Die Burger