Abstract
sChange is a critical phenomenon in any organisation that wants to optimise its performance at individual, team and
organizational levels in order to survive and remain competitive in the intensely competitive and globalised operational
environment – be it economic, social, political, technological, international or labour market environment. This paper presents
empirical evidence gathered from research participants in the Correctional Centres located in the KwaZulu-Natal Region of the
Department of Correctional Services on the factors that triggered the fundamental culture change from the punishment-oriented
philosophy to the rehabilitation-driven philosophy in terms of the treatment of sentenced offenders (herein referred to as DCS
change). An interest in the triggers of transformational change within a correctional environment has motivated the authors to
embark on an empirical study which sought to establish the triggers of the transformational change in the Department of
Correctional Services of South Africa. The study was significant, particularly if one considers the fact that there is generally an
interest in the factors that force organisations to initiate and implement organisation-wide changes. Change and transformation
strategists, organisation development practitioners, and managers in general in both the public and private sector globally and
in South Africa in particular will benefit from the study, particular if one considers the fact that transformational change
interventions are currently being implemented across the South African public service as part of the government’s agenda of
reconstructing and developing the South African society. An extensive literature study on the external and internal triggers of
organisational change was undertaken as part of contextualising the triggers of transformational change within the South
African Correctional Services environment in general. The literature study was followed by the empirical study which focused
on gathering data from correctional officials and offenders through utilising two survey questionnaires. The empirical findings
revealed that the fundamental culture change from the punishment-oriented philosophy which was characterised by nonexistence
of a human rights culture to a rehabilitation-focused philosophy underpinned by the promotion and maintenance of a
human rights culture was sparked off by various internal and external factors. These ranged from financial, social and political
reasons to complaints about service from offenders, complaints from national and international bodies regarding human rights
violations, competitive forces, proactive and progressive leadership,and the need to reduce recidivism.