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5 April 2005

Programme Director, Mr Lekalakala
Alderman Clr. TT Mohapi
Waterberg Mun.'s Speaker, Clr. Rosina Mogotlane
Area Commissioner, Me Motshweni
Regional Commissioner, Mr Gillingham
Acting Head of the Centre, Me DE Madibe
Representative of PMC, Baloyi Resenga
Ladies and Gentlemen.

It is my pleasure to join you in this Historic event. As I speak to both the inmates and all of you around in here today, I would like to take the concept of "Time" as my theme. Make time and don't allow time to become the enemy. Time, the unknown enemy, beats its rhythmic pulse. Unstoppable, it bulldozes ahead, crushing life from those that delay. Wait, tomorrow, just now' is screamed, but alas it is too late. Time forges on as for no man will time wait. It makes no promise and accepts no responsibility for a life that is rife with waste. (Sally Eichhorst)

Programme Director

In the past, prisons were seen as places of punishment. Today we call them Correctional Service Centres. Indeed we are here today to talk about development and care. The fact that this day is set aside for us to come together, is on its own a clear indication that the Criminal Justice System is serious about people in custody.

I have said when I started that I would like to talk about the concept of time. I say time is a concept because you cannot hold it or touch it and yet it is there. Whether you are in prison, in hospital or at home, it remains the same thing, time.

This concept forms a very important part of our lives. If not properly managed, it would want to take control. It would want to control our lives and all our activities.

Today as I speak here, I would want our inmates, to take their time to make a self-introspection and realise that there is time in their lives already wasted. My main reason for being here is not necessarily to remind you of that, but to say to all of you that the Correctional Service is giving you an opportunity to correct that and move on with your life.

Programme Director

Restorative justice is aimed at addressing aspects of personal behaviour and to ensure accountability. To this end, the Correctional Service Act of 1998, Section 18 (1 & 2) states that every prisoner must be allowed access to available reading material of his/her choice, unless if such material is of security risk and not conducive to his or her rehabilitation. In making this kind of provision, government hopes to correct the behaviour that was wrong. We also believe that studying on its own empowers.

We are also aware of the fact that offenders will face a number of obstacles in their quest to become full and functional members of the society after incarceration.

Without the acquisition of new skills, it will therefore be worse. New skills and qualifications will make you to be competitive in the society that is not going to be so kind and sympathetic to you when you leave here.

Programme Director

Human beings, regardless of what happens, remain human beings. Regardless of what these people have done, they have the inherent human dignity and the right to have their dignity respected and protected. If inmates were seen as things, this Department would be called the Department of repairs and maintenance. As government, we realise that some of our inmates were driven to this situation because of certain circumstances.

In his address to NICRO offenders reintegration on 1 October 2003, Minister Skosana said; "Prison remain the depositories of those members of the society whom society has failed in addressing and satisfying their needs and aspirations. As a result we find ourselves with the responsibility to call upon everyone to help us correct what has gone wrong". In this case, we insist that inmates be treated as people with full respect and human rights.

Programme Director

You will realise that some few weeks ago, there was a huge uproar from certain quarters of our communities saying that prisoners are not fit to be given the right to vote. I want to say to you today that those are people in our country, who do not understand our Constitution. They want it changed to suite their own ambitions.

Chapter 2, 19 (3, a) of our Constitution says that every adult citizen in this Country has the right to vote. As we teach you who are in prisons, we do so because we understand that you have the right to information, free basic education, etc. We do so with you because we are also doing the same with people who are not in prisons and therefore you should not be left out as our country is developing. We want to keep you abreast as much as we possibly can so that one day when you leave this place (which you will if you behave), you will take your rightful places in the communities being informed people.

In the Western Cape, they have a programme called: "Ithuba lesibini" which means I' a second chance". This type of programmes is put in place because we believe that people can change if they are given a second chance.
The same with the programme I have just referred to, our desire to reintegrate offenders is driven by our desire to have a safe and secure South Africa. Putting you in prison is not a punishment. We believe by now you certainly have learnt something.

Programme Director

Not so long ago, I was invited by the management of Sinthumule/Kutama Maximum Prison. It was a graduation ceremony. One young man was capping a B.Com degree. As a result of that, I would like to make a specific challenge to all our young offenders who are here today. As I said at the beginning, you do have the time. You just do not know how to use it effectively and efficiently so. You will all agree with me when I say that we now leave in the age of technology. Everything is computerised. From money withdrawal in and outside of the bank to buying a soft drink at a hospital vending machine. This is the time and age we live in. If you do not want to keep up with development you belong to the Iron Age.

The Department of Correctional Services is saying, they want you to be kept abreast in terms of development. Surely they are doing this because they care about you as people. So when you leave here, you definitely are not going to be thrown in the bottomless pit. Throughout the World people do make mistakes. It is said that it is human to make a mistake, but it is not OK to repeat a mistake.

There are agencies out there which are prepared to help people like yourself, who after being incarcerated, leave prison with skills and qualifications but do not have the know how to find jobs. Hence I urge all of you to start thinking seriously about learning new skills. Armed now with new skills and starting from a clean slate, somebody out there will embrace you. Do not despair.

Programme Director

We have also come to the realisation of the fact that there are many children in our prisons. Throughout the country there are 3 774 children and juveniles under the age of 18. This said prison population is also a microcosm of our country's population. What is more of a worrying factor about the whole thing though, is the fact that more of our young people are dying of HIV/AIDS related diseases than anything else. One death, no matter where it happens, is one death too many. We are not saying that only older people should die. But it is critical for the nation to loose more young and economic active people than people who have made their contributions already.

I am told that: "Champions are not made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them, a desire, a dream, and a vision. They have to have skills and the will. But they must be stronger than the skill." Muhammad Ali as I conclude, I want to say to our prison population, now is the time. Now is the time to learn more skills. Now is the time to wake up and do things for yourselves. The tide has turned. The President has made a call: "Vuku zenzele". For you who are here, the wake up call is for you to behave so that when your term for parole assessment comes, you are found to be qualifying. Parole is decided mostly by yourself because of your conduct.

More so, we do not want you to acquire new skills and not utilise them. Facilities are there for you to go and make sure that you know your HIV/AIDS status. Forget about the stigma and think about your future. It does not pay you any dividend to keep quite and die in silence. Go and get help so that you can have a prolonged life. Now is the time, tomorrow may not come. I believe I am talking to people who want to be free and become great people one day.

I am told that: "Champions are not made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them, a desire, a dream, and a vision. They have to have skills and the will. But must be stronger than the skill."

Issued by Department of Correctional Services
5 April 2004

Source: Department of Correctional Services (http://www.dcs.gov.za)