Clr Mondli Gungubele, mayor of the metro, has appealed to communities to play an active role in the rehabilitation of ex-convicts.
Speaking during a recent visit to the Boksburg Prison, Gungubele said the government, through the Department of Correctional Services, cannot hope to rehabilitate all the inmates alone.
“Actually, all the hard work that the correctional services ministry is doing would be a waste of time if communities did not get involved.
“It is important to remember that offenders will eventually return to the communities they come from, and this means they need to be accepted back,” Gungubele explained.
“However, one of the major problems ex-offenders experience is rejection attached to the stigma of having been arrested and found guilty of a crime.
“These ex-offenders then find they have no role to play in the social and economic activity of their community and may revert back to crime and end up behind bars again.”
The mayor feels that communities and community organisations can play a meaningful role in the rehabilitation of former inmates through, among others, spiritual care, skills development and supporting them to start small businesses, so that they have hope for the future.
“Early childhood development (ECD) is very critical in our efforts to dissuade youngsters from living a life of crime,” continued Gungubele.
“This process teaches young people self-worth, helps to unearth their talents and creates self-awareness in terms of the child’s strengths.
“During our school days we used to have class called hand work.
“It was during this period that we would try out different skills, in amongst others, arts and crafts, woodwork and sewing.
“This subject helped us on our journey to self-discovery at an early age.”
During interaction with juvenile prisoners, Gungubele encouraged them not to lose hope.
“You still have a bright future ahead of you,” he said.
“Do not look at this as the end of the world, but rather as a life lesson that you will take with when you get a second chance out there.”
The mayor has also indicated that the metro will, in the near future, engage with the prison authorities to discuss issues of common interest, especially around the economic development for inmates who are plying different trades in the facility.
