Dr. Pieter Groenewald, Minister of Correctional Services, today delivered an address during a prayer session at the Klerksdorp Correctional Centre, commemorating the conclusion of the Department of Correctional Services' Corrections Week.
Nationwide prayer sessions marked the culmination of the week's activities.
In his address, the Minister acknowledged the significance of Divine guidance, strength, and renewal for all individuals within the profession, given the challenging nature of their encounters with some of the most difficult aspects of society. The responsibilities of DCS officials necessitate patience, integrity, and often a wealth of emotional resilience to keep our communities safe.
“You work within environments where brokenness, pain, and suffering are daily realities. You are in a coal face where you witness lives that have taken wrong turns, choices that have brought harm, and situations where redemption sometimes seems distant. But today, we pause to remind ourselves that no life is beyond the reach of healing, and no soul is too far from the grace of transformation,” the Minister told officials.
The Minister noted the disparity in public perception, wherein correctional officials do not receive the same respect as other uniformed services, emphasising the need for change. He encouraged collaboration among officials to transform public discourse and highlighted the heroism, compassion, and professionalism exhibited by correctional officers daily.
The Minister urged every correctional official to approach their duties with pride, aware of the vital, respected, and valued contribution they make. He stated that this recognition is crucial for communities to see these officials as the protectors and reformers they truly are.
“May we never lose sight of the power of faith and hope to transform even the most difficult of situations.”
For media enquiries, please contact
Ms Euné Oelofsen
Media Liaison Officer: Office of the Minister of Correctional Services
Cell: 079 492 5234
E-mail: eune.oelofsen@dcs.gov.za
