“Our task is not a task that is solely dependent on us, it’s a task that in its own origin is made necessary by the fact that we serve the community” – National Commissioner of the Department of Correctional Services, Makgothi Thobakgale.
National Commissioner Thobakgale was speaking during the official launch of this year’s Corrections Week on 16 September 2024 at St Albans Management Area, where he led a series of activities, including a surprise search at the crack of dawn, philanthropy work in the community and display of offender arts and crafts.
The week of 15 to 21 September 2024 is aimed at showcasing the diversity and unique hub that makes the pulse of corrections, rehabilitation and social reintegration as well as Integrated Employee Health and Wellness. Corrections Week is a DCS flagship public education campaign, commemorated annually during September, to promote awareness and deepen understanding of the correctional system in South Africa. This period is dedicated to profile the mandate and successes of the Department as well as to educate the public about the new approach to correctional management.
Delivering the keynote address at the launch, National Commissioner Thobakgale paid homage to the commitment of the men and women in brown. “For me recognising the Corrections Week is about these men and women who are wearing the brown uniform. When we see them, we should thank them for doing a good job. When we see them, we should see our friends, our protectors and those who are a solution to all our societal problems,” he said. National Commissioner lauded the selflessness of officials who used their own money to donate to indigent communities. “They are doing it from the bottom of their hearts. They are doing it because they love their community,” he added.
The day started with an early sunrise search at St Albans Correctional Centre, Medium B, where a plethora of contrabands were recovered including cash, cellphones, sharpened objects and drugs. The second activity for the day was the serving of soup at Sisonke Sophumelela NPO. The soup kitchen was adopted by the Port Elizabeth Community Corrections and serves about 300 community members of Zwide three days a week. The soup ingredients are bought by officials and sometimes chicken gizzards from the broiler project are used to create a meaty and filling ingredient to the soup. The St Albans Bakery also provides surplus bread to the soup kitchen. Blankets bought by officials of Kirkwood and St Albans Management Areas were also donated to 25 flood victims from Kariega.
The activities of the day displayed the distinctiveness of the department in its endeavour to provide a holistic approach to correcting the offending behaviour, ensuring safety in the facilities as well as giving back to the community. The week-long campaign will also include special monitoring at the various community corrections offices, display of offender artwork, the provision of Employee Assistance Programmes, prayer sessions and career day. This is the ethos of Corrections Week which is aimed at shaping the future of corrections as the country celebrates 30 years of democracy.