Offender jazz band "curtain raising" at Macufe Festival
A jazz band of offenders from Kimberley Correctional Centre became the first offenders to ever perform at the renowned Mangaung African Cultural Festival - MACUFE on Saturday, 11 October 2014.
The offender jazz band, accompanied by both the Minister and Deputy Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Adv.Michael Masutha and Mr Thabang Makwetla respectively, raised the curtain at the festival. The department has also set up a stall displayingartifacts done by offenders from the Free State and Northern Cape region. The artifacts displayed at the department’s stall were a selection that reflections the 20 years of freedom.
On display were leather jackets, beadwork, dolls, etc., all done by offenders with their bare hands as part of rehabilitation and development.
Minister Masutha said he is elated that products of offenders' artistic and production skills were displayed at the prestigious MACUFE festival.
“We have been saying that through art we can demonstrate that every person has a potential and they cannot be thrown away,” he said.
Minister Masutha said that it was through Madiba’s painting drawn by an offender and given to him as a gift that he is reminded every day that if people are given a chance, they can be great.
The Department of Correctional Services expressed gratitude to the Department of Arts and Culture and organizers of the MACUFE festival for the ground breaking opportunity for the offender jazz band to "curtain raise" and for the displays of artifacts produced by offenders. The regional management of Correctional Services said what was achieved in MACUFE 2014 is an indication of better things to come over the next few years.
Enquiries:
Manelisi Wolela
Cell: 076 062 2180
