Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour on Monday launched his department's security plan by switching on a half a billion rand security fence.

Balfour switched on the state of the art security fence at a ceremony at the Zonderwater Correctional Centre in Cullinan.

The ceremony kicked off the 50-day festive season "Operation Vala" security plan.

The operation was originally established in 2006 to stop high incidents of escapes, security breaches and assaults over the festive season.

According to the minister, the operation had reduced escapes by 66 percent between 2005 and 2007.

Forty-eight escapes had been registered during the festive season in 2005 in comparison to 16 in 2007.

Balfour said his department was taking the security of the public, officials and offenders "very seriously" hence the investment of nearly R700-million into the three-year operation.

"As an additional cap to confirm the department seriousness about security, the security budget will be increased to R1.6-billion within the medium term expenditure framework," said the department in a statement.

The fence, has been installed at 47 "high risk" correctional centres across the country including Baviaanspoort at a total cost of R510-million.

Sapa