EKURHULENI executive mayor, Clr Mondli Gungubele, appeals to communities to participate in the efforts to give ex-convicts hope for the future.
Gungubele was speaking during a visit toBoksburg Prison on May 28 when he said government alone, through the Department of Correctional Services, could not win the battle of rehabilitating inmates.
“Actually, all the hard work 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. This means they must be accepted back,” Gungubele said.
“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. Sadly though, the reality is that if ex-offenders are rejected by their communities and have no role to play in the social and economic activity of that community, they revert back to crime and end up behind bars again.
“That is why it so important that community members and organisations play an active role in helping to rehabilitate ex-convicts. This participation can come in different forms, for example spiritual care, skills development and supporting them in starting their own small businesses so they can have hope for the future.”
Gungubele indicated that the city planned on engaging with prisons to discuss ways in which inmates who wer practicing in different trades could be economically developed.
“This is important and we must put a team in place consisting of the metro and Boksburg Prison authorities to engage and see how best this could be done. This team will have to put clear terms of reference in place and help in simplifying the partnership.”
Gungubele also addressed juvenile prisoners and spoke about the critical role early childhood development (ECD) plays in teaching children self-worth, having good values and living a life devoid of crime.
“ECD is very critical in our efforts to dissuade youngsters from living a life of crime. This process teaches young people self-worth, helps unearth their talents and create self-awareness in terms of the child’s strengths,” he pointed out, and added that the country must put a lot more emphasis on ECD.
During the interaction with the juvenile prisoners, Gungubele encouraged them not to lose hope and reminded them they still had a bright future ahead of them.
