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Minister calls for community activism to fight Vuwani arsonists.
Minister Michael Masutha has called on the community of Vuwani in Limpopo to ostracise the anarchists who burn down schools during protests. He visited the strife-torn region as part of the department’s back to school campaign on Wednesday, 18 January. Minister Michael Masutha encourages school learners to use education to improve their lives. He visited three of the 14 schools that were burned during the protest at Ha-Mashau in Vuwani. He led a DCS delegation, including parolees to Vhafamadi Secondary School, Mphagane Primary School and Vhudzani Secondary School.
Minister Masutha started at the palace of the local traditional leader Chief Tshivhangwaho Mashau to be briefed about the protest that has interrupted schooling on previous occasions. The protests stem from community discontent about the decision by the Municipal Demarcation Board to incorporate their area into the newly formed Collins Chabane Municipality. Chief Mashau told the Minister that 14 schools, a SASSA office, Post Office and a tribal office were burned in the area during the 2016 protests. “People who committed the deeds were not from here,” chief Mashau said.
Vhafamadi Secondary School has since been turned into state-of-the-art buildings comprising three classroom blocks and an office block. Former learners of the school raised funds to rebuild it. However, the grass around the new school had already grown to window level of the buildings due to the recent rains and parolees were brought in to cut it and clean the school yard.
National Commissioner Zach Modise promised that the department will get the parolees to plant trees and pave the yard once paving bricks and trees are procured. He said the visits to schools and communities help the department to identify areas where it can help. Minister Masutha 
said the instigators of arson must be seen for the thugs they are, and not be confused with the members of the community who are themselves victims. He said there has been a debate at the highest level of government on whether the schools of Vuwani should be rebuilt or the community be left to their own devices and be viewed as authors of their own misfortune.
The prevailing argument was that the schools must be rebuilt, which will happen soon. He told the children at Vhafamadi that learning in a modern school will give them the same opportunity as a child in any other part of the country. “We do not want the children of Vuwani to be seen as rural children who are confined to the immediate environment they grew in. They must think for themselves as the next engineers,” he said. Referring to the arsonists, he said, “We need to inspire our community to understand that you may be angered by anything, but you cannot forgive yourself for taking from a child an opportunity to change their life through education.” He said skilling the youth was one of the ways of preventing involvement of youth in such acts. “Once a young person has some skills, they have a sense of pride, even if they are unemployed and will therefore not get involved in things that are detrimental to progress,” he said.
Minister Masutha motivated the leaners to achieve whatever they dream of achieving despite the environment they learn in. He told them never to commit crime for they will end up in correctional centres. The Principal of Mphagane Primary School, Richard Mudau, pleaded with the Minister to help in getting school books delivered to the school as they were becoming desperate.
Minister Masutha led the commemorative celebrations of the life of Kgoši Mampuru II.
The minister delivered the keynote address to the multitudes of attendees comprising of chiefs from other villages and their subjects. Contingents of quests from far were Bakgatla ba Kgafela from Botswana and amaNdebele who both have historical ties with the Bapedi Kingdom. A delegation of amaMpondo from Eastern Cape was also in attendance. The Minister of Public Service and Administration Ngoako Ramatlhodi, Deputy Minister of Labour Phathekile Holomisa, National Commissioner Zach Modise and MECs also attended the celebrations. Kgoši Sekwati Mampuru III leads a procession at the Kgoši Mampuru II annual commemoration. Kgoši Mampuru II remembered
By Solly Mashabela
Delivering the keynote address, Minister Masutha said Kgoši Mampuru II was honoured by naming the former Pretoria Management Area after him because his history symbolises resistance to the colonial rule. He said the honour was not only for Kgoši Mampuru II, but all warriors who had stood up against repression. He said revitalising the Gallows Museum at Kgoši Mampuru II Management Area and finding the remains of victims of the struggle was also part of the agenda to honour those who fought for freedom. “We are here to recognise the strides made by Kgoši Mampuru II. Many fighters like him were given indigent burials in the belief that their memories would be obliterated. That we shall not allow,” Minister Masutha said. He reassured the descendants of Kgoši Mampuru II that the government will not rest until his remains, which have not been found since he was hanged in Pretoria, are found. The recent exhumation of the remains of 14 Poqo, Pan Africanist Congress military wing, fighters gave hope that Mampuru II’s remains will also be found, he said.
Parliament’s select committee praises Tswelopele
Parliament’s select committee praises Tswelopele By Solly Mashabela Parliament’s Select Committee on Security and Justice this week congratulated the department for sterling work done at Tswelopele Correctional Centre. The committee had an oversight visit to the centre on Wednesday, 1 February. The Chairperson of the Select Committee on Security and Justice Dumisani Ximbi (left) and Free State and Northern Cape Regional Commissioner Subashini Moodley on a walkabout at Tswelopele Correctional Centre. Free State and Northern Cape regional management and centre managers made a presentation to the committee on how offenders are housed according to their categories, the programmes they participate in, living conditions at the facility, and how the centre dealt with the transfer of 1 000 offenders from Pollsmoor recently as a means to reduce overcrowding at Pollsmoor. It was followed by a walkabout through the centre.
Free State and Northern Cape Regional Commissioner Subashini Moodley said the region has a lower level of overcrowding mainly due to activities such as referrals to court for conversion of sentences, their participation in the regional Justice, Crime Prevention and Security cluster forum, and the overall reduction of crime in the region. She thanked the South African Police Service (SAPS) for the lower crime levels. Ms Moodley furthermore outlined the partnerships between DCS and nongovernmental health care organisations, and the Department of Health.
Kimberley Management Area has over 400 offenders on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) and it also has a permanent doctor. Dr Alastair Kantani said what concerned him was the occurrence of remand detainees on ART who stop taking the medication when they are released, only to return after some time in a worse situation. He said some offenders also stretch the centre’s health care by reporting trivial ailments. Regardless, the doctor said since he could attend to most conditions, referrals to outside hospitals were mostly avoided. Committee members were impressed with the neatness and the running of the centre. They said their visit to Pollsmoor Management Area had given them a gloomy picture of the department, but Tswelopele gave them the opposite impression.
They said it was an example of what must be done in all other centres of the department. Committee member Mr Mohapi Mohapi suggested that management should consider the use of inflammable mattresses to prevent offenders from torching centres. Despite their praises, they were concerned over the vacancy rate and the absence of a maintenance contract. “This is a very beautiful centre, but I am worried that in 10 years’ time it will be like Pollsmoor,” committee member Tebogo Mokwele said. She said they will engage the Minister of Public Works. Deputy Regional Commissioner Grace Molatedi said some of the reasons vacancies were not filled were because of austerity measures and the high turnover rate of officials with scarce skills.
Churches to take centre stage in social reintegration
He said the previous government kept prison life secretive and offenders were isolated from society. He said the department is no longer hiding the faces behind bars because they are also part of the community. Mr Makwetla said the department needed the churches as partners to bring healing and transformation in society. “As a humane society we must have the capacity to forgive and help people to heal, not to perpetuate anger and hostility,” he said.
Deputy Minister Makwetla enjoys a dance with religious leaders during a praise song welcoming him at the Saulsville Methodist Church in Atteridgeville, Pretoria. Members of the Young Men’s Guild at the Methodist Church’s Triennial Convention who are not all youth but young at heart enjoy a dance during a moment of praise as they welcome Deputy Minister Makwetla in the house of worship.
He said if spiritual leaders can be seen next to ex-offenders campaigning against crime and at the forefront of social reintegration, it would be easier for communities to follow the lead. Although the church leaders were eager to strengthen their partnership with DCS, concerns were raised about the department’s bad reputation. Corrupt officials inside correctional centres, reoffending and ‘exaggerated privileges’ given to certain offenders were some of the issues raised.
They also requested that the department equip the church in the role of orientating ex-offenders back to society. The Methodist church proposed that their relationship with the department be officiated by a Memorandum of Understanding. It has plans to manage a halfway house as their contribution to restoring the morals of the youth and assisting with social reintegration. Mr Abner Mathabe who leads the social responsibility arm of the Methodist church said they are already involved in a number of interventions in correctional centres. The invitation to Deputy Minister Makwetla was an attempt by the church to expand its role in restoring moral values in communities.
DCS Health Partners Conference assesses milestones
He was speaking at the DCS Health Partners Conference held at Vanderbijlpark from Tuesday, 19 April to Thursday, 21 April. The conference was convened by the Right to Care and attended by officials from KwaZulu-Natal and Free State and Northern Cape regions. Other partners that participated in the conference were the Department of Health and TB/HIV Care (Non-Governmental Organisation).
The partnership between the department and other role players to roll out TB and HIV/AIDS treatment, nutritional and hygiene services at correctional centres is currently being implemented in KwaZulu-Natal and Free State and Northern Cape regions. Addressing the Conference, Mr Modise said a lot has been achieved since the partnership was established in 2014. The achievements are, among others, a high number of inmates screened on admission, increased number of peer educators for TB/HIV awareness, increased number of TB tracer teams for locating released patients who have stopped treatment and staff development.
He said officials should not hinder the partners from helping the department by denying them access to the correctional centres. He referred to an incident where the Right to Care officials were denied access to a correctional centre during Operation Vala. He also said the Health Care officials such as pharmacists and nurses should get resources such as laptops to enable them to function effectively. Despite the achievements already recorded, the conference discussed issues that remain a challenge, such as inmates who are untraceable after release. This is mainly caused by offenders who give wrong personal details when they enrol for treatment.
Mr Modise said this problem shows the need for a biometrics system of recording personal details. The Department of Health promised to provide health care to released inmates in the communities from which they come so that they do not stop treatment once they are released.
Head Office officials cleaned and donated parcels to the needy
The officials walked from Head office to the shelter under the leadership of DC Human Resource Management, Emmanuel Khoza, and DC Integrated Employee Health and Wellness, Mollet Ngubo. The shelter accommodates about 1000 people, including refugees, disabled persons, women and children. During his address Khoza said the dwellers must remain disciplined and maintain hygiene, though they are facing challenges. He promised that the department will provide ongoing help in the form of maintenance of the building.
He encouraged them not to lose hope in life and that they are not written off as people and that God loves them. He encouraged the spirit of sharing, using a Sepedi idiom, Bana ba motho ba ngwathelana hlogo ya tšie, which loosely translated means to share the little that one has. He conveyed his gratitude to the officials, who with the little they have, dug deep into their pockets to help the needy. Amongst the recipients was Solly Gadebe, a 41-year old wheelchair bound former DCS member who hailed from Nelspruit, Mpumalanga.
Gadebe used to work at Nelspruit Community Corrections from 2008 until 2012. Gadebe said that he resigned in 2012 because of transport challenges which resulted in him always being late for work and it didn’t sit well with his supervisors. This father of four said he was looking for a job and he was willing and prayed that DCS take him back.
Mr Khoza said the department will look into Gadebe’s situation and will take it from there. “I lost everything, my company, house and car, Hazel Pienaar (58), former Chief Executive Officer of Zels Finance Company said. She was tearful when asked about the living conditions in the shelter but said she didn’t have any other place to stay. She has become a motivational speaker for homeless people around Pretoria Central.
Happiness at the Mandela statute at Drakenstein Management Area
Colleagues, the massive 17 181 m2 blanket put together by 2000 offenders across the country holds the new world record. On Friday, 22 April 2016 it was displayed on the piece of land directly across the entrance to Drakenstein Correctional Centre in the Western Cape Region.
The 67 Blankets for Mandela Day, the Nelson Mandela Foundation and DCS worked together tirelessly towards making this day a success.
The making of a world record
About 2000 offenders from across the country helped setting a new world record for the largest crochet blanket in the world. A massive blanket larger than the initial goal of 15 000 m2 shimmered with exquisite colours and patterns on a piece of land directly across the entrance to Drakenstein Correctional Centre on Friday, 22 April, to symbolically amplify the occasion of being declared the new world record holders.
All three partners in this endeavour, being 67 Blankets for Mandela Day, the Nelson Mandela Foundation and DCS, worked tirelessly for months on end to get sufficient quantities of wool donated for this blanket – a whopping 60 tonnes of it. Managing and coordinating the actual making of it was another feat, which would not have been possible without the buy-in of DCS officials. They and the offenders, the majority of them males in maximum facilities, took to this project with ease since 2015. Engaging in a hand craft traditionally viewed as women’s domain seemed not to matter at all.
The momentum of goodwill achieved by this project was remarkable, as the campaign leader for 67 Blankets for Mandela Day, Carolyn Steyn remarked shortly after the announcement: “It was so special because I saw South Africans coming together with one common goal to do something for someone less fortunate, in the name of Nelson Mandela”.
DCS rallied its troops under the campaign slogan, “Knitting broken lives and our nation together”.
The more than 10 000 blankets, which were used in making the 17 181 m2 record breaking blanket, will all be donated to various charities, orphanages and homeless people across South Africa. Once the euphoria of breaking the record, held by India for a blanket just over 11 000 m2, the logistics of undoing the blanket and transporting the smaller pieces back to their places of origin will begin.
Several donation events will be held in the participating management areas. It is important that these do not go unnoticed.
The event was officiated by both Deputy Minister Thabang Makwetla and Minister Michael Masutha. Speaking on behalf of the offenders Minister Masutha said the message from them was to say: “We may not have been in our right mind when we committed crime, but this is an example of the solidarity we demonstrate to our fellow South Africans and making up for our mistakes”.