Youth centre head sets record
Apart from many traits spelling fortitude, the newly-appointed acting head of the Mossel Bay Correctional Youth Centre, Zweli Sofuthe, seems to also draw strength from his roots, being in Qunu in the Eastern Cape, or as he refers to it, "the place of Madiba".
Aged 39, he is the youngest head of a correctional facility in South Africa.
Born and bred in the Eastern Cape, Sofuthe completed his schooling and also his technical training in electrical engineering in Mthatha. While working for engineering companies in the private sector in Port Elizabeth for several years, he served as a reservist in the South African Police Services in Uitenhage.
He was seeking more job security and also, having served as a reservist, he wanted to contribute more towards the community. One way of doing so was to follow a career in the Department of Correctional Services.
It wasn't a decision taken lightly, he explains, since although greater job security awaited, moving from the private sector to entry level at the department, meant a notable difference in monthly income. But despite this, his urge to make a difference, was bigger.
Courage and confidence
Sofuthe started working at the George Correctional Centre. Progressing through the ranks swiftly, he secured himself a position as head of the Emergency Security Team. He was deployed in volatile situations such as the prison riot at Mangaung Correctional Centre, near Bloemfontein in 2013 where he spent 14 months.
In 2015, he was again deployed at the St Alban's Correctional Centre in Port Elizabeth, when inmates struck prison officials in a brutal attack.
Here, he spent seven months before returning to his home base, George, where he was head of security. When two youth offenders were killed by cellmates in March 2016, his involvement with the Mossel Bay Correctional Youth Centre started in earnest.
He believes that courage and confidence is the key to calming any situation, even one as volatile as involving rioting offenders.
Therefore, when former head, Phillip Busch was promoted, Sofuthe was the natural choice to take up the reins in his place.
Maximum participation
"I like working with young people. They are active. They need someone with vision to lead them and to take charge of their mindset so that they can be rehabilitated."
Having been raised by his grandmother, who passed away when he was in primary school, he learnt responsibility at a young age, since he had to fend for himself as he grew up.
A keen sportsman, having played Cravenweek rugby as well as rugby for the former Transkei, he believes that getting maximum participation from offenders in programmes is the way forward. His main objective is to send young men home from the centre, not for them to return again to the correctional system.
"To me, offenders are still the same people. I love this job. You won't find me complaining about working overtime."
Currently studying to obtain his LLB degree, he enjoys weightlifting as a pastime. He also holds a diploma in Correctional Services Management,
"I am keen to work with the community and all stakeholders because the rehabilitation of offenders is a social responsibility. I believe in discipline, integrity and consistency."