National Commissioner Tom Moyane will tomorrow unveil a departmental programme to restore the rich heritage of the country that resides with the Department of Correctional Services.The ceremony will take place in Mthatha, Eastern Cape tomorrow and will mark the opening of an art exhibition that depicts some of the traumatic experiences of death row ‘prisoners’ at the Mthatha Correctional Centre.
The ceremony is part of the national commemoration and celebration of the country’s heritage while also contributing the African campaign for ensuring peace and security going into the future. Some of the Department’s gallows have been removed and sealed, closing a critical record of the people’s journey from colonialism and oppression to freedom and democracy.
Commissioner Moyane will also announce a flagship campaign of the Department that is called “Corrections Week”, which is aimed at building, awareness, promoting understanding and mobilising every sector and members of the public to join hands in building a correctional system people of South Africa can be proud of.
The ‘Corrections Week’ campaign starts on Sunday 26 September to 3 October 2010 across the country.
Several activities and events will take place at Correctional Centres and Management Areas across the country, to showcase the work of the department.The key focus areas for this year’s campaign are:
- Celebrating the establishment of African Correctional Services Association (ACSA);
- Exhibitions which showcase produce from farms, factories and art / cultural artifacts
- Offender labour optimisation efforts;
- Opening of parole boards offices;
- Crime prevention campaign;
- Music and Cultural festival;
- A family day for officials; and
- A prayer day.
A programme of the main national events is attached, other events will be coordinated at local level and information will available from the correctional centres.Members of the media are invited to partner with the Department of Correctional Services to inform South Africans about how they can play a role in making Corrections everyone’s business..
Enquiries:
Manelisi Wolela
Cell: 083 626 0304
