and forge partnerships in ensuring safer communities
12 April 2007
"The communities of Mbizana and its surroundings cannot win the battle
against crime and poverty if they do not forge long lasting partnerships with
government, to root out the criminal elements in their midst and ensure a
sustained safe and secure environment," said Minister of Correctional Services,
Ngconde Balfour during government's imbizo today.
The imbizo attended by more than 3 000 people who braved a cold and wet
weather, kick-started the government's Imbizo Focus Week, which commences
today, 12 April until 17 April 2007.
Minister Balfour said government was committed to improving the work
conditions of government employees in the safety and security cluster and also
strengthening the capacity of government security organs to be able to deal a
long lasting blow to crime.
"Communities also have to play their part by forging partnerships with
government to root out the criminal elements in their midst," he added.
He said "correctional services would this year play a huge role in poverty
alleviation by donating food products developed by offenders from the farming
and vegetable gardening projects in correctional centres, to poor and destitute
families and orphans."
He cited an example in Nxura, Mt Fletcher where the Department had adopted
the poorest family and as well as the oldest granny in the area who turns 107
years on Monday, by providing them with food parcels and other products
produced from the Department's projects spearheaded by rehabilitated
inmates.
In Ngqeleni, near Umtata, the Department has also adopted an orphanage where
inmates are refurbishing and renovating the orphanage buildings.
Minister Balfour will also hand over a vegetable garden project to be
cultivated by offenders, to the orphanage on Tuesday as part of the
Department's efforts of rehabilitation and social integration of offenders
through poverty alleviation programmes.
Minister Balfour said, "communities should therefore participate in these
rehabilitation and social reintegration programmes for rehabilitated offenders
so that those that are being released with skills attained whilst in
correctional centres, should be able to plough back to the communities they
have offended and not to be isolated or shunned."
During the imbizo local communities expressed various grievances and issues
of interest in terms of service delivery which include amongst others: lack of
sanitation and clean water, poor roads, dilapidated schools, lack of job
opportunities and general poor infrastructure which is not regularly
maintained. However, many praised the government and the local municipality for
the improvement in a number of areas such as health, education and provision of
essential services.
Minister Balfour promised that issues raised by the communities will be
referred to the respective government departments for action.
The second leg of Minister Balfour's imbizo takes place in Mt Fletcher on
Monday, 16 April and Ngqeleni on Tuesday, 17 April 2006.
For more details, contact:
Luphumzo Kebeni
Media Liaison Officer
Ministry of Correctional Services
Cell: 082 453 2244
Issued by: Department of Correctional Services
12 April 2007
