Correctional Services Minister Sibusiso Ndebele has congratulated the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) on scooping the gold award for their exhibition at this year’s annual Bloem show.
The DCS exhibition, which focuses on “The Year of the Correctional Official”, received a significant overall score, by a group of independent judges, placing it in the gold medallion category. The exhibition received top marks in terms of various criteria, including external attraction, method of communicating benefits, originality as well as presentation of personnel and customer care. The 2013 Bloem show, in Bloemfontein, is taking place from 25 April to 4 May 2013, and more than 400 exhibitors are part of the show every year.
“On behalf of the Correctional Services family, we want to congratulate the Department of Correctional Services on scooping the gold award at this year’s Bloem show. The professional, interesting and attractive exhibition can be attributed to team work by key individuals within DCS. The enthusiasm of DCS officials, who worked at the exhibition, also contributed to its success. We declared 2013 as ‘The Year of the Correctional Official’. We want to raise the status, and profile, of the Correctional Official. Being a Correctional Official is an honourable, and most noble, profession. Correctional Officials have a serious responsibility to society, and the next generation.
“When society breaks down, Correctional Services picks up the pieces and deals with the entirety of the human experience. However, Correctional Officials themselves must first, through their own conduct, earn respect in order to give this profession the respect that it deserves,” the Minister said.
Meanwhile, on Friday (26 April 2013), Western Cape Correctional Officials handed over a house, renovated by offenders, to an impoverished family. Christopher Bekisi (33) from Gugulethu, Cape Town, has been confined to a wheelchair, after suffering a spinal cord injury. Due to the severity of his injury, he is unable to take care and provide for himself. He shares a house, at no. 12 Khweza Street, NY 82, Gugulethu, with his grandmother and mother who are unemployed. When the DCS Western Cape Regional Commissioner, and officials with disabilities, were made aware of Bekisi’s plight, they visited his home and found it dilapidated and not conducive for a person with disabilities.
The wheelchair that Bekisi was utilising was not assisting his condition; the ramp was makeshift and hazardous; entry to the home was a challenge, as the wheelchair could not pass, or fit, through the doors; the bathroom was in a bad state, inaccessible and not disable-friendly; overall, the condition of the house was appalling. Shortly thereafter, inmates, supported by physically challenged officials, commenced with renovations to the house.
Offenders across the country are giving back to communities, and demonstrating remorse for the crimes they committed.
Last Monday (22 April 2013), KwaZulu-Natal Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize handed over a house, which was revamped by offenders, to 118-year-old Themba Mkhize in Ezakheni near Ladysmith. Officials and offenders from DCS: Glencoe Management Area renovated the house completely, including tiling, re-roofing, installing built-in cupboards, painting and plastering.
On 20 April 2013, Minister Ndebele visited Mzwilili Junior Primary School in Umlazi in KwaZulu-Natal, where the body of eight year old Nonjabaulo Sabela, who was brutally raped and killed, was found. At the school, 17 parolees and probationers, as well as four Correctional Officials, from DCS: Durban Management Area, have been assisting with cutting the grass and trees, clearing the bush and cleaning the school yard.
Offenders have made similar contributions in other parts of the country. On 18 July 2012, Minister Ndebele handed over a house in Naledi, Soweto, where offenders assisted with painting, tiling, gardening and food parcels. The occupant of the house, now 47 years of age, ran away from his family when he was 15-years-old.It is alleged that during that period he resided with other street kids in the vicinity of Lenasia. He returned back home in March 2012, more than 30 years later, to an empty house and was informed that all his family members had passed away. He was supported by community-based organisation New Soweto Community Projects, and his rehabilitation was monitored as he was assisted to settle in the house.
Enquiries:
Logan Maistry
Cell: 083 644 4050
