Competition 2006: Thursday, 16 February 2006, Kroonstad Training College Free
State Province
15 February 2006
The Department of Correctional Services invites your good media institution
to cover a National Offender Choir Competition in Kroonstad Training College on
Thursday, 16 February 2006.
The Biennial National Offender Choir Competition, officially launched in
1998, has been made a yearly event. The competition aims to play an important
role in enhancing and preparing offenders in South Africa for sustainable
social reintegration using the healing and rehabilitating effects of music.
Nine hundred and three (903) offenders with 509 males, 235 females and 159
juvenile offenders countrywide will participate in the competition. Choirs from
all the provinces will compete in four categories namely: male, female, youth
and mixed category. In addition there will be the traditional category which
has no prescription but will allow offenders the freedom of expression while
exhibiting the richness and the tones that soothe the soul.
The National Offender Choir Competition has gone beyond imagination in
offering opportunities and platform to offenders to showcase their talent and
creatively express the uniqueness of cultural diversity. With the theme
âSinging for change: Opening the doors of culture, symphony in diversityâ, the
competition will embrace one of the pillars for the implementation of
rehabilitation by a correctional system that truly belongs to all.
The Minister of Correctional Services will deliver a keynote address and
amongst the guest speakers will be Commissioner of the Department of
Correctional Services, Mr L Mti and the Mayor of the Moqhaka Municipality Mr
Holomo Lebona.
The Department of Correctional Services has a security plan in place for the
competition. Both the 2005 National Offender Choir competition and National
Sports Tournament for Offenders are building on the success of these
events.
Enquiries: Manelisi Wolela
Cell: 083 626 0304
Tel: (012) 305 8204
Issued by: Department of Correctional Services
15 February 2006
Source: Department of Correctional Services (http://www.dcs.gov.za/)
