Offenders go head-to-head in reading, debating competition
Scores of offenders, from all the different correctional centres in Gauteng, converged on the Boksburg Prison to take part in the the regional book review, debating and reading competition.
The three-day-event, called Reading for Redemption saw readers and debaters from the different teams representing their respective centres recently.
The books which were reviewed included Dancing in the Dark (Karl Ove Knausgaard), and competitors debated whether South Africa is ready for a woman president.
Some teams then affirmed their support for a female president, while other groups stated that while they have nothing against women – they just don’t think that the country is ready for a petticoat government, owing to the status quo.
Winners were then announced after several rounds of the tournament at the prison with the national tournament to be held in September at Zonderwater Prison in Cullinan.
The competition, organised by the Department of Correctional Services, is aimed at promoting a reading culture among male inmates of all ages, races and gender across the country.
It is also an opportunity for students to show off their public speaking skills and to be recognised with prizes for all their hard work.
The competition was launched by the then Minister of Correctional Services, Sbu Ndebele in 2012, and is gaining momentum as more and more inmates are taking part.
FOR MORE PHOTOS CLICK HERE FOR THE GALLERY OF THE EVENT
