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Master of Ceremonies
Premier of Limpopo Province, Advocate Ngoako Ramatlhodi
Vhothobele K.M.P Tshivhase
MECs here present
Commissioner Linda Mti
Community Leaders
Distinguished guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

The inauguration of a poverty alleviation project here in Thohoyandou to is a sequel to the launching of the Department's Poverty Alleviation and Development Programme which took place in Zonderwater last week in the presence of the Deputy President of our country, Mr Jacob Zuma, and which is a contribution to the national poverty alleviation project which forms part of the Government's Integrated Sustainable Rural Development Strategy.

When he launched the Integrated Sustainable Rural Strategy in Kgalagadi in July last year, President Mbeki indicated that for many years our rural communities had been denied education and that our people were forced to abandon their homes and seek jobs in the cities. He continued: "The Integrated Sustainable Rural Development Programme is intended to empower all those in rural communities who have been disempowered in the past through conducting a sustained campaign against rural poverty and underdevelopment ... an end to poverty and underdevelopment requires a concerted effort from each one of us. Clearly this cannot be done by Government alone, and the success of this programme is dependent on full and active participation by the communities throughout the length and breadth of this country."

It is therefore a great pleasure for me to participate in the inauguration of a Poverty Alleviation and Development Project here in Limpopo Province specifically, as it happens during the Presidential Imbizo month and above all when we celebrate eight years of freedom from oppression. The essence and meaning of our freedom is embodied in today's activities, which reflect the call by the President for us to be self-reliant and to do things for ourselves and reflect the true meaning of "Letsema" and "Vuk'Uzenzele".

The Department of Correctional Services has decided to respond to the President's call to all of us to contribute to poverty alleviation and rural development, and embrace the spirit of "Letsema" and "Vuk'Uzenzele" as he pronounced it in his "State of the Nation" address: "in pushing back the frontiers of poverty, we shall do this in partnership with many in our society who are ready to lend a hand in the national effort to build a better life."

The Department decided to deploy the services of prisoners who have since built the three classrooms. It needs to be mentioned that the community collected funds for purchase the building materials. About twenty prisoners took part in the construction exercise, and they themselves also benefited as they managed to acquire new skills in building work, carpentry, welding and others. The erection of these classrooms stands to benefit about 450 learners from Mutshalingana Primary School and also future generations will also benefit from this project.

Today's occasion is the culmination of a request made by the Vondwe community to the Department of Correctional Services for assistance in the construction of classrooms to ease the plight of children of Mutshalingana Primary School who were taught under trees in the area. As a result of to day's project, the children of Mutshalingana Primary School will no longer experience the difficult learning conditions under the trees or shelters on rainy days. In the past when weather conditions were very bad these children would not attend school, which is a violation of the constitutional provision relating to the right to basic education. A further donation of old school desks, chairs and tables from Pietersburg-Noord which were then revamped in our workshops in deeply appreciated as a sign of good and sympathetic neighbourliness.

The Department found it prudent and necessary to come to the assistance of the community, pursuant to its decision to deploy prisoner-generated goods and services as well as prison labour for poverty, disaster relief and rural development. The intention is to support community development projects such building of rural schools, and partnerships in other projects in which the community will require such assistance. As an implementation strategy, the Department will work together with non-governmental and community-based organisations involved in these projects for the distribution of these goods and services.

Our desire to work together with the community was further demonstrated when the Correctional Services Act was amended to allow for greater community participation in the parole system. The composition of the new Parole Boards will include two permanent members from the community, members from the Departments of Correctional Services, Justice and the South African Police Service. A member of the community will chair them.

Our poverty alleviation strategy will find further expression in other provinces, which are already in the process of identifying other projects to support this programme. We are appealing to other non-governmental and community-based organisations to join hands with Correctional Services in these endeavours.

At this juncture I would like to applaud the support we are continuing to enjoy from the office of the Premier, the Limpopo Provincial Government, the national departments of Education and Public Works, community leaders and the community as a whole. This demonstration of co-operation at these various levels is an indication of what can happen if all of us put our shoulders to the wheel with the simple but noble goal of a better life for all.

The Minister of Education, Prof Kader Asmal, would have liked to be with us today, but due to other pre-arranged commitments he is not able to do so. However, he has asked me to send his regards to you and I am sure that some of you will recall that he has paid you visits before. We hope he will come again to repeat the statement he made early this year that no child must go to school under trees by the end of this year.

It is an accepted fact that crime is fed by many factors including unemployment, and that the majority of the inmates in the prison system are from the previously disadvantaged groups, and Limpopo Province is no exception. It is for this reason that the Department is offering various skills development programmes to equip prisoners with market-related skills and competencies needed by the production sector and in so doing help to break the cycle of crime. External stakeholders accredit the skills acquired by the prisoners and this should guarantee recognition of their certificates and diplomas thus ensuring their absorption into the industrial community.

However, we are faced with the problem of rejection and stigmatisation against these former inmates upon their release and return to society. Our efforts at rehabilitation will become completely useless if society continues to reject these people because if they cannot be employed they will certainly return to a life of crime.

Correctional Services has decided to put Rehabilitation and Restorative Justice at the centre of its operations. Concentration on rehabilitation is meant to strike a balance between rehabilitation and safe-custody.

This has subsequently brought the need for the re-skilling of officials in rehabilitation techniques thereby enhancing the goal of rehabilitation.

The active engagement of the community in the rehabilitation process of the prisoner as a collective responsibility strengthens our partnership in the treatment of the prisoner. To promote and enhance community involvement will be developed to ensure a structured working relationship, which will regulate involvement between role players.

It is essential that we forge a concerted approach to rehabilitation with respect for the boundaries of law, justice and morality, with a sound sense of individual and collective responsibility and integrity to become actively involved in promoting and preserving responsibility among inmates. If no one takes responsibility for changing the hearts and minds of our inmates toward a culture of respect for legal rights, property and life, the culture of criminality will prevail.

The Department has identified Restorative Justice as one of its strategies to address rehabilitation as a long-term goal towards crime prevention.

It is a just process that brings together the victim, the offender, the families and the community into the mediation process, for purposes of repairing the harm created by crime. It is also aimed a creating an environment for reparation and forgiveness, thereby bringing along healing in the community.

In conclusion, I would like to point out that the purpose of these community projects is to promote and improve community relationships with the Department, to encourage the community to do things themselves, and to avail skills to the community as part of community upliftment programmes in order to provide skills training to disadvantaged and illiterate communities.

The most encouraging characteristic of the Vondwe community is their direct involvement in today's project and not just waiting for Government to do things for them and this is a quality, which other communities would do well to emulate.

God bless you all - God bless Correctional Services.

I thank you.

Issued by Ministry of Correctional Services

15 April 2002