The apex leadership of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) under the stewardship of Minister Pieter Groenewald, Deputy Minister Lindiwe Ntshalintshali and National Commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale led from the front as the Department signed off on a hugely successful Corrections Week programme, by holding simultaneous prayer sessions at Head Office and various correctional centres across the country, on Friday, 20 September 2024. The prayer sessions marked a culmination of a weeklong series of departmental activities to commemorate Corrections Week, from 15 to 21 September 2024.
Corrections Week 2024, held under the theme: ‘Celebrating 30 Years of Freedom and Democracy Towards Shaping the Future of Corrections’ is a flagship public education campaign that seeks to affirm the notion that rehabilitation works in correcting offending behaviour, and that family, community and societal involvement is central to the rehabilitative and social reintegration efforts of the Department.
Minister Groenewald, together with National Commissioner Thobakgale, Regional Commissioner of Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West (LMN) region, Tlabo Thokolo, scores of correctional officials, and members of the interfaith community in their diversity were in Klerksdorp Correctional Centre to mark the official closing of Corrections Week 2024. Having observed that the prayer session was attended by different interfaith leaders including Rastafarian, African Traditional, Muslim and Christian faith, Minister Groenewald fittingly drew reference to the preamble of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. “The Constitution is an amplifier that amongst others, unites us in our diversity. Today, I have experienced quite a lot of diversity in the representation of prayers made here,” he affirmed.
Dr Groenewald acknowledged the perilously nature of the work done by correctional officials, and commended them for their selfless service to the country and humanity at large. “You work in an environment where brokenness, pain and suffering are your daily realities. DCS officials must work together, be supportive of each other and serve with pride to regain public confidence,” said Minister Groenewald.
Echoing the Minister’ sentiments, National Commissioner Thobakgale said the Corrections Week prayer was meant to heal, restore and revive the spirits of correctional officials. “Life is humbling to an extent that we should not be doubtful to talk about praying and where we come from. It is very important to pray for the good cooperation between DCS officials and offenders because its only through prayers that we will be able to change their lives for the better,” he said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister Ntshalintshali was at the same time participating in a similar prayer session at Witbank Correctional Centre. The ceremony was graced by interfaith leaders, DCS officials and acting Executive Mayor of Emalahleni Local Municipality, Nombuso Mokwana. Interfaith leaders prayed for DCS apex leaders, officials, inmates, and for peace and harmony to reign among members of the community.
In her keynote address, Deputy Minister Ntshalintshali touched on a number of key issues affecting the Department including the smuggling of contrabands by the community during visits, corrupt officials who are on the payroll of inmates, dilapidated infrastructure and its inhibiting impact on effective rehabilitation of offenders, enhancement of Self-Sufficiency and Sustainability projects.
She warned that the Department will continue to be relentless in its efforts to eradicate contrabands in correctional facilities. To this end, she said more unannounced raids are in the offing. The Deputy Minister also took the opportunity to tour the Production Workshops to witness first-hand the marvellous output of inmates under the expert tutelage of correctional officials in making uniform for both officials and offenders.