during government imbizo programme, "Partnership for Safer and Development
Communities"
11 April 2007
Minister of Correctional Services, Honourable Ngconde Balfour (MP) will host
an Imbizo at the Bizana Youth Centre, former Transkei tomorrow Thursday, 12
April 2007 and Mt Fletcher on Monday, 16 April, as part of government Imbizo
Programme from 12�17 April 20076.
The Bizana Imbizo which will be attended by councillors and Mayors of
Qaukeni and Mbizana District Councils will commence at 10h00. The Minister will
on Friday, 13 April, also undertake oversight visits to existing and closed
correctional facilities in Bizana, Lusikisiki, Flagstaff and Mqanduli with a
view to possibly re�open some of the facilities as detention centres for
awaiting trialists.
On Monday, 16 April, at 10h00, Minister Balfour will host a second Imbizo at
the Mount Fletcher Community Hall which will also be attended by the local
councillors and Mayor of the district council. As part of the government's
poverty alleviation programme, he will pay a visit to the poorest family in
Nxura that the Department of Correctional Services has "adopted." The family of
seven orphans who are looked after by their elderly grandmother are currently
receiving food grants from correctional services and also assisted by our
social workers in terms of accessing social grants.
Minister Balfour will also pay a surprise visit to the eldest woman in the
area (Nxura) who is turning 107 years on Monday. The department is also
supporting the old granny with food grants and will also be hosting a surprise
birthday for her during the Minister's visit. The food grants that are being
supplied to the families are products of the farming and gardening projects
tendered and cultivated by inmates in correctional centres in the surrounding
areas.
On Tuesday, 17 April, the Minister will hand over a vegetable garden project
to the Ngqeleni Orphanage, which is also being cultivated by inmates as part of
the department's rehabilitation and social integration programmes for
offenders. Minister Balfour will lay the first seedlings of the garden. The
Orphanage which has also been "adopted" by DCS is currently being refurbished
or renovated by offenders.
For further details, contact:
Luphumzo Kebeni
Media Officer
082 453 2244
Sabelo Mzanywa
Imbizo Project
083 535 6992
Zukisa Nduneni
Head EC Communication Officer
Cell: 079 495 1221
Issued by: Department of Correctional Services
11 April 2007
