Is prison home away from home?

Krugersdorp Correctional Services in partnership with Mogale City Local Municipality’s libraries came together in what is known as Offender Debate inside the correctional facility.

Sibusiso Mafethe, Correctional Services Communication Officer said this is an initiative to get offenders involved in social programmes such as debate, spelling bees and readathons as part of their rehabilitation and reintegration after having finished serving their sentences.

“These projects aim at contributing to the successful implementation of the Ministerial Reading for Redemption project and is used to develop a love of reading among offenders.”

Recently, a team from Mogale City’s Library Unit visited the centre to experience an exciting and vibrant debate between two teams of offenders opposing one another on a topic very controversial within the correctional facilities nationally.

The topic of the day was “Prison is a home to stay, or not?”

The programme director Nthabiseng Mokoena was intrigued by the responses the offenders were engaging in, sighting that there are different opinions on how correctional facilities are being perceived by society as a form of penance and others as a form of rehabilitation, not taking away the belief that correctional centres are homes to stay while for others are not likely to be seen as homes.

In one of the blows exchanged on the debate floor, Mishack Aphane who is serving a minimum sentence said the prison is a home to stay because like the society outside these enclosed walls and bars, inside prison there’s a community of people who deserve a second chance in life.

“Inside the prison there are many opportunities. Individuals get to learn life-changing skills, proper behaviour and spend a lot of time to correct their mistakes.”

However, opposing that statement was John Mogomotsi Gaije who stated a prison is not a home because there is no freedom.

“It is a time-wasting place that will always remind you of the outside world and most importantly there’s no unconditional love in the same way as outside with your own family.”

The debate inspired a lot of inmates in the audience to further partake in programmes like these, as they assist is curbing idling minds within correctional centres, keep offenders occupied instead of participating in gang-related activities, idleness and bad behaviour, and help build confidence in one’s societal behaviour as pointed out by Daleen Kruger, an Area Coordinator: Development and Care for Krugersdorp Correctional Centre.

The winning participants were from both teams. They showed the merits of their opening statement, research, clarity, audibility and adhering to the rules of engagement.