Rehabilitating criminal offenders through art

The Threshing Floor is an exhibition showcasing artworks by young offenders in the Leeuwkop Correctional Centre and was launched by Constitution Hill on 27 November.

Correctional officer at Leeuwkop and section head of sport, recreation, arts and culture at the centre, Busisiwe Siluma said the artworks were the end result of a holistic programme run by Young in Prison South Africa – an organisation that believes in art as a process of rehabilitating children and youth in conflict with the law.

“There isn’t much to do in prison so art has been a way to keep the young offenders busy, but this programme is also aimed at starting the process of integrating these young man back into the public,” she said.

“Once released, they can go on creating their art and selling it to tourists or even people within their own communities.”

Siluma said the contribution from the organisation beyond the borders of correctional services demonstrates the need for communities to also take it unto themselves to help in the rehabilitation of the offenders.

“We as correctional services can not do it alone and are grateful for those who see a need to contribute to the rehabilitation of these young men,” she added.

One of the artists whose pieces were on display at the exhibition, was former Leeuwkop prisoner, Mahlatsi Malatshi.

He explained how the programme had not only enabled him to discover his talent, but it had also opened up his mind to other opportunities.

“At first I started it as a hobby to keep myself busy in prison, but then the process slowly changed me in some way,” he said.

“It opened my life to the opportunities offered to youth in our country and it has also enabled me to participate in youth-led and youth-orientated programmes and courses.”

The exhibition gives insight into the process the youth go through at the centre.

The exhibition will be showing until 13 December.