For the female inmates incarcerated at Nelspruit Correctional Centre in Mbombela, Mpumalanga, Women’s Day (09 August), brought ample cheer as they were embraced by SABC Ligwalagwala FM and SABC TV crew who visited the Centre to inspire and empower women who find themselves in conflict with the law.
Speaking on the purpose of their live outside broadcast at the Female Unit, Ligwalagwala FM Brand Specialist, Mfanampilo Ndlala, said the initiative is part of their community uplifment programme. “Today we decided to remember women who are behind bars by raising awareness about the increasing number of women in correctional centres. We also want to educate the public about the plethora of socio-economic issues facing women today and the role played by the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) in rehabilitating incarcerated women and reintegrating them back to society after serving their sentences,” stated Ndlala.
Sharing with the listeners and viewers of SABC about their experiences, Nolundi Yanta (58) who is serving a life sentence said the best years of her life have been wasted in jail due to bad decisions. “I never thought that my life would turn out this way. Looking back, I realise that I had a good life as a businesswoman, but I was tempted into a life of crime because of greed,” said remorseful Yanta.
Sindile Phiri (37) also expressed regret for the murder of her boyfriend during a domestic violence dispute. “Because of financial dependency on my partner, I endured a life of emotional and physical abuse until that day when I decided to end his life and mine in a fit of rage. Incarceration after surviving the incident taught me that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is not a solution for any person faced with my circumstances,” explained Phiri. She implored the listeners to walk away from situations that triggers anger and to be independent.
A former public servant, Hlengiwe Khumalo (47), broke down during her testimony as a convict of 10 years. She warned the public that incarceration is not as simple as it is commonly believed, indicating that she lost precious time as a mother to her kids.
Department of Correctional Services’ National Commissioner, Makgothi Thobakgale, graced the programme and was joined by the Regional Commissioner of Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West Region, Tlabo Thokolo and other officials. Commissioner Thobakgale appreciated the partnership with the SABC which is intended to cast light on the dangers of committing crimes, especially by women.
Talking on the role of DCS in rehabilitating women who broke the law, National Commissioner Thobakgale unpacked an assortment of comprehensive rehabilitation programmes offered to inmates incarcerated in Correctional Facilities.
“Our mandate as the Department is to subject offenders to a variety of programmes that will assist them to become functional members of society once they are released at the end of their sentences. It is a mammoth task which we cannot achieve alone without the buy-in of the community and partnerships with other key stakeholders,” he said.