Pretoria - Correctional Services Minister Sibusiso Ndebele has encouraged officials within his department to commit themselves to life-long learning as a way to improve their skills.
“In the case of correctional officials, education, life-long learning and reading will ensure that you cultivate a positive attitude towards rehabilitation… Correctional officials are agents of change. It is these officials who have a pivotal role to play in social cohesion and nation building.
“We are turning our correctional centres into learning centres and we want offenders to read, study and work. Since April last year, the number of completely illiterate inmates enrolled for literacy courses increased from 1 300 to 2 600.
“Further, the number of full-time correctional schools increased from one in 2009 to 12 in 2014,” said the minister.
He was speaking at the sixth National Corrections Excellence Awards over the weekend. The awards recognise correctional officials who go beyond the call of duty in contributing towards safety, fighting fraud and corruption, promoting partnerships, advancing community participation and advancing education in rehabilitation.
Over 6 000 correctional officials from the country’s 243 correctional centres submitted entries for the awards. The entries were adjudicated from correctional centre level to area, provincial and national level by an independent adjudication committee. Sixty-eight finalists were selected in the various individual and team categories.
Some of South Africa’s top correctional officials and teams for 2012/13, who came first in the various categories, include:
- Good Governance Award: Mr Theunus Frederick Bloem from Durban Medium C Correctional Centre in KwaZulu-Natal.
- Batho Pele Award: Mr Leon Lamprecht from George Correctional Centre in the Western Cape.
- Masibambisane Award: Mr Surgeon Tom from King William’s Town Correctional Centre in the Eastern Cape.
- Education and Training Award: Mr Dannyboy Pieterse from Pollsmoor Female Centre of Excellence in the Western Cape.
- Public Safety Award: Mr Hendrik Albertus Van der Spuy from Community Corrections at Pietermaritzburg Management Area in KwaZulu-Natal.
- Best Community Corrections Office: Krugersdorp Community Corrections Office in the Limpopo/Mpumalanga/North West Region.
Dennis Williams, the community liaison officer at Pietermaritzburg Community Corrections Office in KwaZulu-Natal -- who scooped second prize in the category Best Overall Public Servant of the Year at the Department of Public Service and Administration inaugural National Batho Pele Excellence Awards in November 2013 -- was also acknowledged. – SAnews.gov.za
