Teenage crime contributes to prison overcrowding

The increased trend of teenagers engaging in gangsterism and involving themselves in serious criminal activities such as rape, hijacking and drug-related offences is not only a concern but a contributing factor to overcrowding at the Polokwane Correctional Centre.
The facility is currently bursting at its seams with more than double the number of offenders it has the capacity to accommodate being put up. The centre currently houses 1 217 offenders but was only built to host 557.
Figures provided by newly appointed Centre Coordinator: Operational Support at the Polokwane Correctional Centre, Sydney Ramashala reveals the facility’s juvenile population as a clear indicator of the high number of youth involved in criminal activities.
The centre currently hosts seven sentenced youth males and three sentenced youth females. A further 200 male youth and two female youth offenders are remanded while awaiting trial.
While Polokwane made headlines after the alleged killing of Thoriso Themane (28) by a gang of teens in Flora Park in February Police reports of teens’ involvement in crime have apparently become commonplace.
Working closely with the Police and the Department of Justice, Ramashala raised concern about teenagers involved in crime as well as gangsterism. “The biggest issue in Polokwane is petty crime, drug-related offences and gangsterism all of which mostly the result of a high unemployment rate. The number of youngsters being incarcerated for offences such as rape, hijacking and robbery is a matter of concern. It is a big task to rehabilitate them and to release them back into society knowing they will not commit another offence,” Ramashala said.
Ramashala added that overcrowding also remains problematic with a total number of offenders which include sentenced and trial awaiting male and female adults and juveniles at the centre totalling 1 217. The facility is only capable of accommodating 557 offenders.
“With such a big number of offenders the challenges of successful rehabilitation becomes more evident. There is a mix of race, age and culture in one pool and the main goal to rehabilitate each and every offender becomes a difficult task,” Ramashala said.
Ramashala joined the centre at the beginning of June and is responsible for managing correctional programmes such as health and education as well as managing social workers, spiritual workers and psychologists. He has to ensure that all programmes are implemented well in order for offenders to be successfully rehabilitated.
Part of his job description is to manage the overall safety of the facility, employees and offenders, as task being made increasingly difficult with visitors to the centre regularly trying to smuggle in illegal goods for inmates. Removing the pulp of an orange and stuffing it with dagga, is one of the many ways visitors have tried to smuggle illegal goods into the facility. “We appeal to visitors to refrain from such acts as it does not help with the rehabilitation process,” Ramashala said.
He has been in the employ of the department since 1999 and his experience ranges from custodial security to being security manager at a maximum security prison as well as emergency support team head. Ramashala currently holds the position of National Task Team: Special Operations Leader.
“I look forward to working with the community of Polokwane in an effort to get rid of any criminal activities on the streets, but also to contribute to the successful rehabilitation of offenders,” he declared.

Story & photo: RC Myburgh
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