Photo Captions
Photo 1: National Commissioner, Mr Makgothi Thobakgale (seated on the far right), joins fellow regional leaders at the Annual Conference of SADC Heads of Corrections, Prisons, and Penitentiary Services in Salima, Malawi. Together, they chart a bold new path away from purely custodial practices toward rehabilitation, dignity, and lasting reintegration for offenders across the SADC region.
Photo 2: National Commissioner, Mr Makgothi Thobakgale, addresses the Annual Conference of SADC Heads of Corrections, Prisons, and Penitentiary Services in Malawi.
The National Commissioner (NC) of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS), Mr Makgothi Thobakgale, successfully concluded a high-level regional engagement at the Annual Conference of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of Corrections, Prisons, and Penitentiary Services. The landmark gathering took place at the Sunbird Livingstonia Hotel in Salima, Malawi, from 19 to 22 May 2026.
Chief Deputy Commissioner for Strategic Management, Mr Joseph Katenga, and Director of International Relations, Ms Ednah Legodi, ably supported NC Thobakgale throughout the proceedings.
This year’s conference sounded a clear and powerful call for correctional services to shift away from mere custodial practices and instead focus on long-term reintegration metrics. This bold vision strengthens our department’s commitment to global humanitarian frameworks and puts dignity at the heart of corrections.
Malawi’s Minister of Homeland Security, the Honourable Peter Mukhito, officially opened the conference with an inspiring challenge to all Member States to rethink the foundational mandate of correctional facilities.
“Correctional institutions must no longer be viewed simply as places of punishment, but rather they must become centres of rehabilitation, education, dignity, and hope, where offenders are transformed into responsible citizens.”
Professor Kula Theletsane, Director of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Affairs, echoed these powerful sentiments. He reminded delegates that regional peace, security, and development depend directly on how effectively we address the root causes of crime and support offenders during reintegration.
This year’s theme, “Pathways to Change: Facilitating Effective Offender Rehabilitation and Reintegration in Corrections/Prisons,” builds sequentially on critical frameworks established over recent years: from Namibia’s 2023 focus on conflict management, to Zambia’s 2024 session on anti-radicalisation, and Tanzania’s 2025 summit on intelligence gathering.
Game-Changing Recommendations for 2026
The conference delivered concrete, forward-looking recommendations that will shape the future of corrections across the region:
- Priority management of serious released offenders – Supporting risk-informed monitoring and strengthening public protection.
- Harmonised parole frameworks – Directing SADC to launch regional consultations and develop guiding instruments on parole management between Member States.
- Counter-terrorism integration – Bringing Corrections and Prisons into the Regional Counter-Terrorism Strategy as critical stakeholders, with a sharp focus on radicalisation and deradicalisation.
“Execution Is the True Measure of Success”
In her official closing remarks, Malawi Prison Services Commissioner General and outgoing Chair, Ms W.G.C Phiri, struck a powerful tone. She emphasised that the true measure of the Conference’s success lies strictly in execution.
She urged Heads of Corrections, Prisons, and Penitentiary Services to ensure the forum remains a platform for practical, measurable progress – not empty discussions or repeated resolutions. She also reaffirmed the urgent need to align regional operations with international benchmarks, specifically the Nelson Mandela Rules.
South Africa Leads the Way Forward
Through its active participation, DCS continues to reinforce South Africa’s strong role in regional integration. By exchanging institutional best practices and modernising our rehabilitation toolkits, we continue to evolve correctional practices to meet international standards, lower recidivism, and build safer, more compassionate communities for all South Africans.
“South Africa remains committed to advancing a correctional system rooted in rehabilitation, human dignity, and accountability. Through regional collaboration, we are building institutions that do not merely detain, but transform lives and contribute meaningfully to safer communities across the SADC region,” National Commissioner Thobakgale said.
He added: “Our responsibility as correctional leaders extends beyond safe custody. We are called to restore dignity, create pathways to rehabilitation, and equip offenders to return to society as responsible and productive citizens. A safer region begins with successful reintegration”.