… Correctional Services commends proposed initiative
MBABANE – His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS) has expressed its support for the initiative to establish a drug rehabilitation centre, a project spearheaded by the Southern African Network of Prisoners (SANOP) in collaboration with the Durban Haven Rest Halfway House.
Sergeant Baphele Kunene, the Deputy Public Relations Officer (PRO) of HMCS, stated that the department welcomed such efforts, particularly when initiated by organisations it shared strong partnerships with.
He said HMCS and SANOP have enjoyed a long-standing partnership, working together on numerous programmes, aimed at creating a conducive environment for ex-offenders.
Kunene highlighted the persistent issue of recidivism, a problem where former inmates returned to prison within a short period after release. He pointed out that research indicated factors such as societal rejection and unemployment as contributing to this cycle.
Further, Kunene said the establishment of a rehabilitation centre was a significant step towards addressing these societal gaps. He said as a department, they fully endorsed the initiatives that aimed to reducing recidivism and aided the reintegration of ex-offenders into society.
The PRO further called upon other organisations to support programmes aimed at rehabilitating inmates. According to Kunene, prisons housed many young individuals with brilliant ideas and impressive capabilities. He said, however, that due to limited resources, these talents often remained untapped and their full potential unrealised.
He emphasised, “We must nurture these dreams; these individuals can contribute greatly to society with the right support and resources.”
While acknowledging the resource constraints, Kunene noted that HMCS continues to offer a range of vocational programs to inmates. The aim is to equip every offender with a skill that could potentially enable them to start their own business after their release.
“We strive to ensure that every individual leaving our facilities has a skill they can use to create a sustainable livelihood,” he stated.
The initiative to establish a drug rehabilitation centre, alongside a feeding scheme for children, represents a significant step towards providing much-needed support for ex-offenders, helping them reintegrate into society and lead productive lives.
HMCS’s endorsement of this initiative underlines the importance of such collaborative efforts in addressing the challenges of recidivism.
The call for more organisations to support rehabilitation programmes is a testament to the collective responsibility society holds in addressing issues related to crime and recidivism.
By providing the necessary resources and support, these individuals can transition from being offenders to becoming contributors to the society.
In conclusion, the initiative to establish a drug rehabilitation center and HMCS’s endorsement of it highlight the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing recidivism.
As the project moves forward, it is hoped that more organisations will heed the call to support such initiatives, ensuring that ex-offenders receive the support they need to reintegrate into society and lead fulfilling lives.