The Deputy Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Mr. Thabang Makwetla, will launch South Africa’s first Ex-Offenders’ Desk at Patensie, in the Eastern Cape, on Thursday, 28 January 2016. The launch of the Ex-Offenders’ Desk is in line with the resolution of the Ex-Offender Conference held on 23 and 24 July 2015 in Pretoria, which is aimed at identifying the role that ex-offenders can play within communities to curb criminality and to ease the process of social reintegration of parolees and probationers back to societies.
The Ex-Offender Desk in Patensie will be located in a newly-renovated building, which was previously used as a tavern prior to being donated to the community by the owner for multi-purpose projects within the community. The building was then extended and renovated by a group of parolees and probationers, under the supervision of the Humansdorp Community Corrections office.
The renovated building will serve ex-offenders and the community in various disciplines such as Anti-Substance Abuse Programmes, Life Skills as well as services provided by, amongst others, the Department of Social Development, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), the Department of Health and various Non-Governmental Organisations.
Media is invited to join the Deputy Minister as follows:
Date: Thursday, 28 January 2016
Venue: Ramaphosa Location, Patensie, Port Elizabeth
Time: 9h30 for 10h00
We wish to request media attending to please confirm attendance by sending their details to Zama Feni at Zamuxolo.Feni@dcs.gov.za or 082 558 3369.
Enquiries:
Logan Maistry
Cell: 083 6444 050