Witbank Social Reintegration held a ‘Back to Basics’ session for all officials.

The progamme was held on Wednesday, September 7 at the Witbank Correctional Centre.

The ‘Back to Basics’ session was aimed at regenerating the morale of correctional officials in executing their duties of rehabilitating offenders.

This comes after negative reports of the department to the community, the most recent one being the brutal shooting of two correctional officials stationed at Boksburg which subsequently led to their untimely demise.

The Area Coordinator of Social Reintegration, Ms Cynthia Hlatshwayo informed the attendees that the purpose of the event was to assist officials to go back to the basics of correctional services.

“The core mandate of correctional officials is to rehabilitate offending behaviour through a series of programmes outlined in the Offender Rehabilitation Path. After the successful completion of this programme, offenders are supervised under the correctional supervision programmes aimed at transitioning offenders back into society, “she added.

Mr Romeo Gwambe, Area Coordinator Corrections reiterated the use of security equipment to ensure safety of officials at all times.

“You are not an imbecile if you wear a bulletproof vest, because it is meant to protect you,” said Gwambe.

He also advised officials to intensify special monitoring operations, make use of their relations with SAPS crime intelligence, ensure frequency of fire-arm training, improved communication between heads of centres when offenders are escorted to community corrections offices and emphasised on the importance of classifying security sensitive documents.

Psychologist Ms Pearl Viljoen addressed the issue of stress in the workplace.

“The environment that we work in is already stressful hence officials must ensure that they manage their work stress to avoid it culminating to chronic stress,” she pointed out.

“There are many things that one can do to manage their stress level ‒ exercise, spend time with loved ones, meditation, addressing the problem instead of ignoring its existence, living within your means and most importantly adjusting your mindset,” she highlighted.

Head of spiritual care and counselling Chaplain Oscar Madlala motivated officials to take care of their spiritual wellbeing.

“We need healing; a wounded pastor is a danger to his congregation. Wounded officials are ungovernable hence we need healing. Healing purifies our environment, we must heal our DCS,” said Madlala.

Witbank Area Commissioner Reverend Mandla Sibanyoni presented the performance of social reintegration; he stated that social reintegration has a caseload of 934 absconders.

“The core mandate of correctional officials is to rehabilitate offending behaviour through a series of programmes outlined in the Offender Rehabilitation Path. After the successful completion of this programme, offenders are supervised under the correctional supervision programmes aimed at transitioning offenders back into society. Officials face many challenges while executing their duties, and this session will assist them to go back to the basics of correctional services,” reads a statement from the department.

He indicated that there has been great improvement in apprehending absconders amidst the challenges faced by the officials.

Two portraits of the fallen heroes of Boksburg Community Corrections were handed over to the Regional Commissioner.

The portraits were drawn by an offender at Witbank Correctional Centre.

The Regional Commissioner Mr Tlabo Thokolo encouraged officials to be innovative when executing their duties.

He acknowledged the challenges that they face and the dangers that come with the job, but he pleaded with them to apply policy at all times.

He pointed out the following factors: Officials need to resist being corrupted by offenders and parolees, refrain from any personal relationships with them, create a positive image of DCS in the communities and ensure that thorough searching is conducted when offenders and parolees are apprehended.

He applauded Social Reintegration for the ‘Back to Basics’ initiative.

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