Inmates rehabilitated by building a home for the needy

The Ncome Correctional Service Management Area officially handed over the two-roomed, fully-furnished house built by the Ncome offenders as part of celebrating Corrections Week held at Manqele family in Ward 7, Mhlungwane area, Nondweni, in Nquthu on September 28.

The aim of the Corrections Week is to prepare the offenders to integrate them with the community they had wronged.
Besides getting a house, the Manqele family also benefitted from a tombstone which was erected for their late mother, Makhosi Florence Zondo, which was also unveiled by the Correctional Services chaplain, M Naidoo.

Acting Area Commissioner, Zamantuli Mbhele, also urged the offenders to be actively involved in the rehabilitation process and training programmes offered by Correctional Services where they are trained. The offenders were the builders of the house, applying skills they had acquired during their training.
These offenders were also awarded certificates of appreciation after they had successfully built the house for Manqele family. Mrs Mbhele said chapter three of the White Paper says: “when there is no family, we don’t have jobs.”

 
She told the Courier that the offenders will come back to the Manqele family to plant a garden. “Chapter 13 of the White Paper says: “we as correctional services can’t work alone when we don’t engage business people and other stakeholders,” Mrs Mbhele added that actions speak louder than words. She said the government, together with the community and business people, had acted and built a house.

Mrs Mbhele lambasted the students who are burning university properties and urge them to learn. “We can help you with anything but we can’t help you when you fight over the house that is built for you. Please take care of it,” she said. She thanked all those who had supported or donated to make the dreams of the needy to have a shelter come true.