N Balfour: Bongani Gxilishe and Sanlam rugby tournament

22 September 2006

Acting regional commissioner
Area commissioner
Senior management and staff of the Department of Correctional Services
(DCS)
Representatives of SANLAM and South African (SA) rugby
Sportsmen and women
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen

Next week, from 26 to 29 September 2006, we will be celebrating Corrections
Week; a campaign aimed at mobilising community participation and engagement in
the rehabilitation and social integration of offenders by showcasing and
portraying the success stories of the Department.

This rugby tournament which was pioneered by the former regional
commissioner of the Western Cape, who has been re–deployed to the national
Department of Public Works as Deputy Director–General, Bongani Gxilishe, is
also an integral part of the national and regional events, launching the
Corrections Week.

This tournament which commenced in 2005 at the Mdantsane Correctional Centre
is a form of offender rehabilitation at its best, through sports and
recreation. The continued sponsorship by corporate partners such as SANLAM is
indicative and demonstrative of the partnership that we seek to forge with
various stakeholders, to enhance our rehabilitation programmes.

The objectives of Corrections Week are clearly demonstrated in the form of
this rugby tournament, which also showcases the sports talent we have in our
correctional centres.

We all owe it to the pioneer of this tournament, Bongani Gxilishe, that
today we can proudly engage our offenders in this tournament. Let us dedicate
this day and event to him particularly that he is no longer with the
Department.

Sports generally form an integral part of recreation that promotes fitness
and wellness, and more importantly forges relations and friendship. In
correctional services, in particular, sports extend far beyond that, it is one
of the key forms of rehabilitation.

Offenders therefore should not miss this opportunity as it is a platform
that creates opportunities for those offenders that are talented in sports to
develop their rugby skills. It also offers a chance to potential rugby players
who are offenders to have that sports potential uncovered and nurtured.

Offenders who miss the opportunities we offer in our correctional centres in
the form of rehabilitation programmes that focus on sports, arts and recreation
as well as those that focus on formal education and vocational training, have
no future or second chance outside prison.

We must continue to inculcate a culture of active participation in sports in
the offender community. We will not allow offenders who idle and sleep in
correctional centres, refusing to participate in any rehabilitation programmes.
The devil always has a plan for “idle minds” and we do not need such “idle and
contaminated minds” in our centres.

Let me re–emphasise the point I make to all offenders whenever I meet them:
“Grab this opportunity with both hands because there is no other chance after
the second chance!”

In conclusion, prison, anywhere in the world, is not a place to start a new
beginning but our correctional centres have become places of new beginnings
because of the emphasis we put on offender rehabilitation and social
reintegration.

You must go out there and display your talent as you compete with each other
during this tournament. There could be sports scouts amongst us who may
identify your talent and assist in developing it further when you are released.
It has happened in boxing as we now boast of ex–offenders who are participating
in professional boxing, particularly in the Eastern Cape. Music has also
produced celebrities and superstars who once were offenders in their
lifetime.

If you are committed in these rehabilitation programmes, the sky is the
limit!
Go out there and enjoy yourselves, let the games begin.

I thank you.

Issued by: Department of Correctional Services
22 September 2006
Source: Department of Correctional Services (http://www.dcs.gov.za)