Violence is not the answer,South Africa
According to Dawson, these acts of mutilation demonstrate extreme anger, which is beyond control, and that gang rape is often an expression of "punishment".
MBOMBELA – The cause of violent behaviour which subsequently leads to conflict with the law and the rehabilitation of offenders, has been recently placed in the spotlight in the National Crime Prevention and the Reintegration of Offender’s (Nicro) annual report.
Ms Celia Dawson, deputy executive director of Nicro, expressed, her concern regarding the violent behaviour South Africans displayed during 2014.
“Over the past year citizens have been continually horrified by the devastating violence perpetrated against defenceless children, the non-ending gang warfare with its blood-letting activities and the deplorable rape of defenceless young people and even babes in arms.”
According to Dawson, these acts of mutilation demonstrate extreme anger, which is beyond control, and that gang rape is often an expression of “punishment”.
She says low self-esteem, hopelessness and helplessness, with nothing of value to live for; no aspiration and no inspiration, play a significant role in this type of violent behaviour. “These elements ferment to form a lethal cocktail which is an explosion waiting to happen.”
In desperate need to bring the abject crime situation in South Africa under control, Nicro provides professional social-work services to people in conflict with the law as well as to troubled youth. Nicro receives referrals from the Department of Justice and relevant court stakeholders, the Department of Correctional Services and various community organisations as well as families and schools. It offers a variety of therapeutic interventions to address the cause of crime to low-risk, first-time offenders referred by the court and non-custodial sentencing services to offenders who have been found guilty of a crime, but serve their sentences in the community.
According to Ms Claudine Mare, area manager of Nicro in Mbombela, they also serve reintegration services to offenders who have served their sentences and will be released from prison, as well as crime-prevention programmes to schools and communities.
Enquiries: Nicro on 013-755-3540.
