WATCH: Inmates awarded skills development certificates
One of the offenders, Themba Sibanyoni, said he was proud of himself for all his efforts and hard work.
About 50 inmates from the Boksburg Correctional Services who have acquired skills in woodwork received their honorary skills programme certificates on May 5.
The programme, which is facilitated by Leribe Training Solutions, a service provider that offers offenders accredited skills-development training in clothing manufacturing and furniture crafting has empowered offenders with skills since 2014.
According to Velaphi Tsomane, Leribe Solutions training contract manager, they have worked with this particular group since 2019, teaching them everything about furniture making.
“When we started, we taught them basic skills such as knowing their tools in level one, then for level two we enlightened them about basic assembling, where they assembled and started crafting chairs and tables from scratch. We are now left with level three.”
Tsomane said the items produced by the inmates are for correctional facilities, the office of the presidency and other departments.
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“We make sure all the offenders who participate in these training workshops leave the facility as artisans. We make it a point that we train them on entrepreneurial skills so that when they leave the correctional facilities, they not only leave with artisanal skills but entrepreneurship skills as well,” Tsomane said.
Meanwhile, during the handover ceremony, the Boksburg area commissioner, Henny Makhubela, congratulated the group.
“As part of the correctional centre’s role in promoting social responsibility, we empower inmates with skills development. We want you to be motivated to change so you can improve your life so you can earn respect from those you offended. It is important that while you are still in prison to not waste your time by being involved in gangs but be productive and think about something that will take you to another level,” he said.
Makhubela said it was the offenders’ responsibility to prioritise their development for themselves and their families.
One of the offenders, Themba Sibanyoni, said he was proud of himself for all his efforts and hard work that he has put in since he began with the programme.
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