Female offenders celebrate Women’s Month
Female offenders at the Polokwane correctional centre commemorated the women of 1956 who marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to petition against the pass laws that required South Africans defined as "black" by the Population Registration Act to carry a pass last Tuesday.
POLOKWANE – Female offenders at the Polokwane correctional centre commemorated the women of 1956 who marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to petition against the pass laws that required South Africans defined as “black” by the Population Registration Act to carry a pass last Tuesday.
The women were joined by members from the Women’s Fellowship of the South African Council of Churches and the area commissioner for correctional services, Kenneth Mthombeni.
The inmates and their visitors sang and danced to praise and worship songs before the spiritual leaders shared encouraging words with the offenders.
The speakers said they wanted to encourage the inmates not to lose hope and to continue with rehabilitation so that they could start over when they left the centre.
The offenders were very happy with the visit. “We are grateful that there are still people from the outside who care about us here at the centre and who recognise our rights as women.
“We are also happy that our rights are observed and respected at the centre. We are given opportunities to better ourselves through education and rehabilitation programs every day.”
