Date:22/09/2006
Source: Department of Correctional Service
Title: Balfour: Sanlam Rugby Tournament
Speech by the Minister of Correctional Services N Balfour at Sanlam Rugby Tournament, Southern Cape Management Area, George
Acting Regional Commissioner
Area Commissioner
Senior Management and staff of Department of Correctional Services (DCS)
Representatives of Sanlam and South African Rugby
Sportsmen and women
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Next week, from 26 to 29 September 2006, we will be celebrating Corrections Week, a campaign aimed at mobilising community participation and engagement in the rehabilitation and social integration of offenders by showcasing and portraying the success stories of the department.
This rugby tournament, which was pioneered by the former regional commissioner of the Western Cape, who has been redeployed to the national Department of Public Works as Deputy Director–General, Bongani Gxilishe, is also an integral part of the national and regional events of launching the Corrections Week.
This tournament, which commenced in 2005 at the Mdantsane Correctional Centre, is a form of offender rehabilitation at its best, through sports and recreation. The continued sponsorship by corporate partners such as Sanlam is indicative and demonstrative of the partnership that we seek to forge with various stakeholders, to enhance our rehabilitation programmes.
The objectives of Corrections Week are clearly demonstrated in the form of this rugby tournament, which also showcases the sports talent we have in our correctional centres.
We all owe it to the pioneer of this tournament, Bongani Gxilishe that today we can proudly engage our offenders in this tournament. Let us dedicate this day and event to him; particularly that he is no longer with the department.
Sports generally form an integral part of recreation that promotes fitness and wellness and more importantly forges relations and friendship. In correctional services in particular, sports extend far beyond that, it is one of the key forms of rehabilitation.
Offenders therefore should not miss this opportunity as it is a platform that creates opportunities for those offenders that are talented in sports to develop their rugby skills. It also offers a chance to potential rugby players who are offenders to have that sports potential uncovered and nurtured.
Offenders who miss the opportunities we offer in our correctional centres in the form of rehabilitation programmes that focus on sports, arts and recreation as well as those that focus on formal education and vocational training, have no future or second chance outside prison.
We must continue to inculcate a culture of active participation in sports in the offender community. We will not allow offenders who idle and sleep in correctional centres, refusing to participate in any rehabilitation programmes. The devil always has a plan for "idle minds" and we do not need such "idle and contaminated minds" in our centres.
Let me re-emphasise the point I make to all offenders whenever I meet them: "Grab this opportunity with both hands because there is no other chance after the second chance."
In conclusion, prison, anywhere in the world, is not a place to start a new beginning but our correctional centres have become places of new beginnings because of the emphasis we put on offender rehabilitation and social reintegration.
You must go out there and display your talent as you compete with each other during this tournament. There could be sports scouts amongst us who may identify your talent and assist in developing it further when you are released. It has happened in boxing as we now boast of ex-offenders who are participating in professional boxing, particularly in the Eastern Cape. Music has also produced celebrities and superstars who once were offenders in their lifetime.
If you are committed in these rehabilitation programmes, the sky is the limit.
Go out there and enjoy yourselves, let the games begin.
I thank you
Issued by: Department of Correctional Service
22 September 2006
Source: Department of Correctional Service
Title: Balfour: Sanlam Rugby Tournament
Speech by the Minister of Correctional Services N Balfour at Sanlam Rugby Tournament, Southern Cape Management Area, George
Acting Regional Commissioner
Area Commissioner
Senior Management and staff of Department of Correctional Services (DCS)
Representatives of Sanlam and South African Rugby
Sportsmen and women
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Next week, from 26 to 29 September 2006, we will be celebrating Corrections Week, a campaign aimed at mobilising community participation and engagement in the rehabilitation and social integration of offenders by showcasing and portraying the success stories of the department.
This rugby tournament, which was pioneered by the former regional commissioner of the Western Cape, who has been redeployed to the national Department of Public Works as Deputy Director–General, Bongani Gxilishe, is also an integral part of the national and regional events of launching the Corrections Week.
This tournament, which commenced in 2005 at the Mdantsane Correctional Centre, is a form of offender rehabilitation at its best, through sports and recreation. The continued sponsorship by corporate partners such as Sanlam is indicative and demonstrative of the partnership that we seek to forge with various stakeholders, to enhance our rehabilitation programmes.
The objectives of Corrections Week are clearly demonstrated in the form of this rugby tournament, which also showcases the sports talent we have in our correctional centres.
We all owe it to the pioneer of this tournament, Bongani Gxilishe that today we can proudly engage our offenders in this tournament. Let us dedicate this day and event to him; particularly that he is no longer with the department.
Sports generally form an integral part of recreation that promotes fitness and wellness and more importantly forges relations and friendship. In correctional services in particular, sports extend far beyond that, it is one of the key forms of rehabilitation.
Offenders therefore should not miss this opportunity as it is a platform that creates opportunities for those offenders that are talented in sports to develop their rugby skills. It also offers a chance to potential rugby players who are offenders to have that sports potential uncovered and nurtured.
Offenders who miss the opportunities we offer in our correctional centres in the form of rehabilitation programmes that focus on sports, arts and recreation as well as those that focus on formal education and vocational training, have no future or second chance outside prison.
We must continue to inculcate a culture of active participation in sports in the offender community. We will not allow offenders who idle and sleep in correctional centres, refusing to participate in any rehabilitation programmes. The devil always has a plan for "idle minds" and we do not need such "idle and contaminated minds" in our centres.
Let me re-emphasise the point I make to all offenders whenever I meet them: "Grab this opportunity with both hands because there is no other chance after the second chance."
In conclusion, prison, anywhere in the world, is not a place to start a new beginning but our correctional centres have become places of new beginnings because of the emphasis we put on offender rehabilitation and social reintegration.
You must go out there and display your talent as you compete with each other during this tournament. There could be sports scouts amongst us who may identify your talent and assist in developing it further when you are released. It has happened in boxing as we now boast of ex-offenders who are participating in professional boxing, particularly in the Eastern Cape. Music has also produced celebrities and superstars who once were offenders in their lifetime.
If you are committed in these rehabilitation programmes, the sky is the limit.
Go out there and enjoy yourselves, let the games begin.
I thank you
Issued by: Department of Correctional Service
22 September 2006
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