The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has heeded the call to support 94+ Projects for the Madiba campaign, in celebrating former President Nelson Mandela’s 94th birthday tomorrow (18 July) by improving schools across the country.
The Minister of Correctional Services Sibusiso Ndebele will on the 18th of July join forces with offenders and officials to renovate schools and a child-headed home in Gauteng. The priorities of the projects include fixing of old desks, installing of library shelves, installing of burglar bars at the library, developing a vegetable garden, cleaning of the school yard, fixing of broken classroom windows, painting of toilets and fencing.
The initiative is aligned with Correctional Services mandate of changing the lives of offenders by affording them the opportunity to give back to communities and demonstrate the remorse for the crimes they committed against communities. Correctional Services will actively participate in other planned activities across the country to contribute in improving the infrastructure and environment in schools.
Details of the event are as follows:
Date: Wednesday, 18 July 2012
Venue: Tsakani Primary School (near Brakpan), East Rand, Gauteng
Time: 10h00 for 10h30
N.B: Thereafter, the Minister will proceed to the child-headed home at Naledi, Soweto.
All media are invited to attend. Journalists attending must confirm attendance as per details below. RSVP with your name, mobile number and email address to:
Tshidi Mapole
Cell: 076 478 3620
E-mail: matshidiso.mapole@dcs.gov.za
Ahead of International Mandela Day tomorrow, yesterday (16 July) Minister Ndebele and offenders donated school uniforms and food to residents of Donkerhoek near Piet Retief in Mpumalanga.
Minister Ndebele on Monday spent 67 minutes with offenders at the Piet Retief Correctional Services Centre harvesting fresh vegetables from a garden started by offenders, firstly to develop their own skills but also for them to contribute towards poverty alleviation and fighting hunger. The vegetables from this garden are donated to needy families in this community.
Following the visit to the centre the Minister and offenders also donated 900 grey trousers manufactured by offenders from Witbank Correctional Centre; 900 white shirts made by offenders from Mogwase Correctional Centre and 834 dozen of eggs from Losperfontein Correctional Centre to the Ezakheni Combined School.
During the opening of the school on 6 November 2011 by President Jacob Zuma, the department pledged one hectare of land to provide fresh vegetables for the school. Since implementation of this project during February this year, 2 178 kilograms of five types of fresh vegetables, planted and cultivated by offenders, were donated to the school between April and 2 July.
The Minister highlighted that the department was increasing the number of offenders ploughing back into society.
"This week, we join the rest of the country in celebrating our international icon, and our own Madiba, by setting aside time, rolling up our sleeves and dedicating 67 minutes to working to uplift our communities.
"On Wednesday, 18 July, Madiba turns 94, we salute him and honour him through this contribution by DCS to poverty alleviation as part of the 2012 Nelson Mandela International Day commemorations," the Minister said.
The materials used to produce the shirts were donated as a result of a partnership between the department and Sun City.
Enquiries:
Logan Maistry
Cell: 083 644 4050
