NELSPRUIT – Inmates from the province were urged to practise their constitutional right to vote in the elections yesterday to shape the country for the better.
Witbank Correctional Services officials, led by area commissioner, Mr Mandla Sibanyoni, in partnership with Ezweni Youth Centre members and other external stakeholders, celebrated 20 years of freedom and democracy at the correctional facility through gospel music, cultural dancing, sports and words of encouragement.
Sibanyoni defined freedom as the choice of life. He added that this choice should be coupled with humbleness.
“Any member of society has to make a good choice about life and ensure that it produces the fruits of peace prosperity, respect and good human relationships. I further encourage the community to visit the correctional services authorities at Witbank or elsewhere in the country to bring along collective effort to prevent and correct the offending behaviour.
He reiterated that rehabilitation of offenders is a societal responsibility.
An ex-offender, Mr Crosswell Libanzi, urged other offenders to make sound decisions and plans while incarcerated so that when they are released they could put them into action. The Safa president in Nkangala, Mr Linda Zwane, also urged inmates to use the time spent in jail to rehabilitate so that they could be better citizens of the country and refrain from committing crime again. “Humanity cannot afford to waste hard-earned freedom by continuously committing crime,” he said.
Zwane also urged offenders to take soccer seriously as it had the potential to be an economic empowerment tool. The day was also marked with friendly matches between the offenders’ team and Black Aces (Amaziyoni), which the latter won 1-0.
He also donated 50 soccer-kit bags, to the head of the correctional centre, Mr Mandla Bongwe for use by the inmates.
