Bethal Correctional Services celebrate Women’s Day
Department thanked sponsors and speakers.
The Department of Correctional Services finished off Women’s Month with a celebration for women inmates at the prison on Tuesday, August 30.
Poppy Vilakazi, Mrs South Africa semi-finalist for 2022 and an ex-offender, was the main guest speaker.
The other government departments that were involved, were the Department of Justice, the Department of Health, Childline, the Department of Arts, Culture and Recreation and the Department of Social Development and Metropolitan.
Vilakazi told the offenders they must be strong women, especially when they eventually get released from prison because there will be backlash from their communities when they have to reintegrate back into society.
Sthembile Sibiya, a social worker at Bethal Correctional Services, said women offenders are not women’s enemies, but human beings who made mistakes which need to be corrected through various programmes provided by the department.
“Correctional centres are no longer prisons, but rather centres where humans are being rehabilitated and where we are correcting wrong behaviour and not fighting an enemy,” said Sibiya.
The speakers emphasised the issue of gender-based violence.
Gugu Mbatha, from Bethal Hospital’s Childline, said rape is not a joke and the victims of rape need to be helped and counselled.
“We encourage people to report rape, it does not matter how much time has passed since the incident. Survivors must report rape,” said Mbatha.
She pleaded with people to believe children when they report rape or any violence against them.
Offenders used the platform to perform poetry, dances and songs.
These performing arts included a choir, the Mango Groove dance, spiritual dances and a Setswana dance.
Stellar Zulu, an offender who is serving a life sentence, enjoyed the day and is happy to be remembered and recognised as a woman and a mother.
“It shows that we will still be welcomed within society when we eventually get released,” said Zulu.
Another offender, Phumelele Mdhele who is serving a seven-year sentence for murder, said they are grateful for what the department has done for them for Women’s Day.
Metropolitan gave away goodies to the offenders and Correctional Services prepared a meal for all the offenders.
The management team thanked their sponsors for the day which include Boxer, Spar, North City and Metropolitan.
