{"id":11295,"date":"2026-08-25T10:07:36","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T10:07:36","guid":{"rendered":"\/?page_id=11295"},"modified":"2026-08-25T10:07:36","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T10:07:36","slug":"reading-for-redemption-gautengs-best-offender-readers-head-to-national-funda-mzantsi-championship","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"\/?page_id=11295","title":{"rendered":"Reading for Redemption: Gauteng’s Best Offender Readers Head to National Funda Mzantsi Championship"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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From 19 to 21 August 2026, the Gauteng Region hosted its elimination competition for offenders aspiring to represent the Region at the National Funda Mzantsi Championship, scheduled for George from 28 September to 02 October 2026.The Gauteng elimination competition took place at Kgo\u0161i Mampuru II Management Area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now in its 16th year, the Funda Mzantsi Competition continues to provide offenders with a meaningful platform to develop their reading, literacy, debating, communication and critical-thinking skills. Participants arrived well prepared and determined to secure a place among the top 50 performers who will represent Gauteng at the national level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Former Winner’s Words of Encouragement<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Former offender, Ms Lerato Manaka of the Modiehi Foundation reflected on her own Funda Mzantsi experience. Ms Manaka participated in the national competition in 2019 and was crowned overall winner in the Sesotho spelling category. She acknowledged DCS for its continued commitment to rehabilitation and encouraged participants to embrace available opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The fact that you are able to participate here means you have already conquered,” said Ms Manaka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rehabilitation Through Learning<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Gauteng Regional Commissioner, Mr Luckyboy Mathiba, emphasised that DCS has a responsibility not only to maintain safe, secure and humane correctional facilities, but also to create an environment conducive to rehabilitation, learning and personal development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We believe that rehabilitation is not possible without creating opportunities for individuals to learn, reflect and acquire the skills necessary to make positive choices in their lives,” said Regional Commissioner Mathiba.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He encouraged participants to view the competition as an opportunity for personal growth rather than simply a contest for recognition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Do not participate merely because you want to win a prize or be recognised as the best reader. Participate because you want to grow. Read to learn. Read to challenge yourself. Read to discover who you can become,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Participants Shine<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The 2026 elimination competition provided an opportunity for new participants to showcase their abilities and achieve notable results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Offender William Charles Enslin from Modderbee Management Area, a member of the Movers and Shakers Book Club, expressed his excitement after securing a position in the English debate category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Offender Kgaugelo Peta from Johannesburg Female Correctional Centre delivered an outstanding performance, receiving two medals after securing second position in book reading and first position in the spelling bee. Offender Peta described her participation as both fulfilling and challenging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Participating in the Funda Mzantsi Competition is fulfilling and, at times, challenging, especially when competing with other participants nationally,” said Offender Peta. She encouraged fellow offenders to make use of reading opportunities to broaden their knowledge and continue growing while serving their sentences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Offender Peter Lekalakala from Kgo\u0161i Mampuru II Management Area, a member of the Pharmacy Book Club, was another first-time participant who made a strong impression, securing a medal in the Sepedi book review category and second position in the debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adjudicators’ Feedback<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In her closing remarks, adjudicator Ms Thandeka Legae from the West Rand Municipality highlighted the importance of coherence, effective projection, correct punctuation use and voice projection. She commended participants for presenting well-organised book summaries while noting that debaters could benefit from further training and research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through initiatives such as Funda Mzantsi Championship, DCS continues to provide offenders with opportunities to acquire knowledge, develop confidence and prepare themselves for positive reintegration into society.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From 19 to 21 August 2026, the Gauteng Region hosted its elimination competition for offenders aspiring to represent the Region at the National Funda Mzantsi Championship, scheduled for George from 28 September to 02 October 2026.The Gauteng elimination competition took<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2851,"featured_media":11300,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11295"}],"collection":[{"href":"\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2851"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11295"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11295\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11301,"href":"\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11295\/revisions\/11301"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/11300"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11295"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}