Leeuwkop inmates help clean Shukumani Primary, promoting community reintegration

Hluphi Shili, head of the intermediate phase at Shukumani Primary School, has partnered with the Department of Correctional Services at Leeuwkop to involve inmates in a school cleaning programme, aiming to improve school conditions and promote community reintegration.

Schools often start the year in a poor state, and as the school-based support team coordinator, Shili regularly takes learners on behavioural programmes to Leeuwkop Prison, where she has developed a strong working relationship with the department.

On January 15 and 16, she invited inmates to Shukumani Primary to assist with cleaning while also encouraging them to embrace change and community acceptance.

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“I wanted to assist them in completing their community service hours, which will reduce the time they owe and help them move closer to being free from their charges.

“The community must accommodate inmates to feel welcomed into society,” she said.

Shili has been running the cleaning programme with Leeuwkop for four years.

She says schools respond positively to the initiative, encouraging the Thembisa community to implement similar activities to help inmates reintegrate into society.

“The programme teaches others that inmates are human beings and support from the community can change their lifestyles,” she said.

A challenge, Shili noted, is securing approval on time for inmates to participate.

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She applies at the end of the year to ensure that bookings comply with the rules and regulations of the Department of Correctional Services.

“My goal is to teach our learners the importance of good behaviour and understanding the consequences of their actions. I hope they learn from the programme and avoid following a path that could lead them to prison,” Shili said.