Public VOD proves that people can be rehabilitated

Parolee Ms Betty Tsie cautioned congregants against crime during the Public Victim Offender Dialogue (VOD).

The dialogue was held at the church in KawaGuqa on Sunday, November 15.

The public VOD was organised by Witbank Community Corrections in an attempt to improve the social reintegration of offenders back into society through restorative justice.

Mr Anthony Hlatshwayo headed the programme reminding the congregants from time to time not to label parolees as they are now reformed. He reiterated that offenders and parolees were indeed products of society.

Head of Witbank Community Corrections, Mr Humphrey Skosana educated the congregants on the role of community corrections offices.

“Our role as community corrections is to ensure the successful social reintegration of parolees into the society,” said Mr Skosana.

“The sentence of an offender does not expire when he leaves the correctional facility. After rehabilitation, we classify parolees according to their security risks, and we adjust them as per their behaviour during monitoring and supervision. Should the parolee not comply with the set parole conditions, we refer them back to court or the correctional facility.”

He further indicated that when society rejects the parolees, they end up reoffending, therefore the community should refrain from labelling them as criminals.

Area coordinator of social reintegration Ms Cynthia Hlatshwayo addressed the congregants on the purpose of the public VOD session.

She said: “As the community, we raise children even though they are not our biological kids. When they do wrong, we must reprimand them and forgive them for their wrongdoings. Some of those kids may be older than us in age, but we must still correct their offending behaviour. I appeal to you to forgive our parolees and not stigmatise them when you see them. It might be you tomorrow wearing the orange offender’s uniform”.

Parolee Ms Betty Tsie lit the room when presenting her testimony. She confessed how she conspired with some men to threaten her husband to return the money which was meant for her business, but regrettably got her husband killed instead, and she had to face the wrath of the law. However, she is downright rehabilitated and has even completed two diplomas while at the correctional centre.

Pleading forgiveness from the congregates and encouraging them to leave abusive relationships before it is too late were her points. “Don’t live life to impress other people, don’t be afraid to be labelled a divorcee and don’t stay in abusive relationships for the sake of the children, who will look after them once you are dead or imprisoned?” she pleaded.

The congregation was given a chance to respond. Mr George Nhlapo spoke on behalf of the church and said: “Gender-based violence is rampant nowadays, we applaud the parolee for the courage to speak out and ask for forgiveness. God forgives us all, therefore who are we to hold grudges?”

South African Police Services representative also gave a message of support; Captain Christina Sibeko briefly shared her experience and advised women to leave abusive relationships. You should leave now and be happy rather than stay and end up being imprisoned for committing murder unintentionally and out of anger.

Another member of the church also gave a message of support. Ms Constance Skosana indicated that the church welcomed the apology of parolee Tsie, “we are humbled that you chose our church as your host, we are now better informed what the Correctional Services’ role is in the community”.

Mr Hlatshwayo closed off the session in his concluding remarks and said: “The session was impactful, and we hope no one was offended during the session”.