The African Correctional Services Association executive committee held a two-day conference which culminated in a visit to Leeuwkop Prison.
The conference covered issues such as overcrowding in prisons, offender transfers, funding, transformation of prisons in line with international and African conventions, protocols and bilateral agreements. More than 30 correctional services ministers from across Africa attended the conference.
The delegation was welcomed to Leeuwkop Prison by the offenders choir.
In his address, South African Minister of Correctional Services Sibusiso Ndebele mentioned his nostalgia at being back at the prison. Ndebele was imprisoned at Leeuwkop as a political prisoner during apartheid.
Ndebele spoke about some of the challenges facing South African prisons such as overcrowding and the difficulty for inmates in accessing rehabilitation. He explained that one of the possible solutions to overcrowding was the implementation of alternative sentencing.
Ndebele said courts were being encouraged to examine the nature of the crime and instead of doling out prison terms, some offenders could be sentenced to community service.
“No one should go unpunished for committing a crime, but an offender needs to be rehabilitated,” he said. “Prison is not always the best environment for rehabilitation.”
Ndebele stressed the need for prisoners to have goals during their prison sentence. “Having goals is how you measure time in prison,” he said.
“That’s how Mandela did it and that’s how we did it.” He encouraged prisoners to read, learn skills, and keep in contact with their families and friends by making phone calls and writing letters. “There’s no dustbin for human beings,” he said. “Whatever you did, you can be better.”
PRISONERS NEED TO SET GOALS
The conference covered issues such as overcrowding in prisons, offender transfers, funding, transformation of prisons in line with international and African conventions, protocols and bilateral agreements. More than 30 correctional services ministers from across Africa attended the conference.
The delegation was welcomed to Leeuwkop Prison by the offenders choir.
In his address, South African Minister of Correctional Services Sibusiso Ndebele mentioned his nostalgia at being back at the prison. Ndebele was imprisoned at Leeuwkop as a political prisoner during apartheid.
Ndebele spoke about some of the challenges facing South African prisons such as overcrowding and the difficulty for inmates in accessing rehabilitation.
He explained that one of the possible solutions to overcrowding was the implementation of alternative sentencing. Ndebele said courts were being encouraged to examine the nature of the crime and instead of doling out prison terms, some offenders could be sentenced to community service.
“No one should go unpunished for committing a crime, but an offender needs to be rehabilitated,” he said.
“Prison is not always the best environment for rehabilitation.”
Ndebele stressed the need for prisoners to have goals during their prison sentence.
“Having goals is how you measure time in prison,” he said.
“That’s how Mandela did it and that’s how we did it.” He encouraged prisoners to read, learn skills, and keep in contact with their families and friends by making phone calls and writing letters.
“There’s no dustbin for human beings,” he said.
“Whatever you did, you can be better.”
