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Date : 10/05/2005
Source: Ministry of Correctional Services
Title: Balfour: Skills development certificate and awards ceremony of Pretoria Management Area


Address by the Minister of Correctional Services, Mr BMN Balfour, MP, at the skills development certificate and awards ceremony of the Pretoria Management Area

Programme Director
Pastor van Vuuren
MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation in the Limpopo Province, Mr Joe Maswanganyi Acting Regional Commissioner, Ms Sishi Mthabela
Chief Deputy Commissioner (CDC): Development and Care, Ms Jabu Sishuba
Area Commissioner, Mr JM Mkabela
Project Manager of Languages Limpopo, Ms Mawela
Representatives of AP Professional Hair Technology; Vine College; Mpumalanga Skills Training; Khulani; Fast Track Services; Prime Service; Temo Thuo; Skills for Africa Training and BC Landscaping
Recipients of certificates and awards
Invited Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

It is on such occasions that I want to see the doors of our institutions opened to the public so that they can share in the joys of the achievements of those who are incarcerated. This is another special moment in the lives of inmates who acknowledge that they have offended society but who then actively use their time to bring about changes in their lives.

There are too many people who are quick to condemn offenders for offences that they have committed without giving thought to how such people can be assisted to become law-abiding, productive citizens. Instead, inmates are accused of living off the state and of being a burden to society.

You have demonstrated that this is not necessarily the case. As offenders who have decided to acquire skills while incarcerated, you have given an indication to society that you want to change your lives. I am most pleased to be officiating here this morning at a ceremony where your efforts and hard work are being rewarded.

I think it is important that you do not under-estimate what you have achieved. Acquiring the skills that you have is an important step towards correcting the offending behaviour that brought you here in the first place and is a window of opportunity for you. It can be the gateway to a successful career once you are released from custody to return to your families and communities. I am most encouraged by what I am witnessing here today. It gives me hope. It gives me strength. It gives me confidence that the new direction of Correctional Services can bring about life-changing attitudes.

As recipients of certificates and awards, whether it be in literary classes, trades, sport, arts or any other area of skills development, you have shown that with the necessary support, you can build better lives for yourselves. It is important that this should not be the end of your achievements. Rather, it should be a stepping stone to even greater things. I believe that there is no substitute for education and learning. I come from the old school where teachers taught and students studied.

You are those students who have studied and are now being rewarded. The numerous service providers are the teachers who imparted these skills to you. I have mentioned the nine service providers in my opening remarks who are involved in programmes here in the Pretoria Management Area. As partners of Correctional Services, you play an invaluable role in our programmes of corrections and development.

I believe such partnerships are vital if we want to succeed in giving practical effect to our White Paper on Corrections in South Africa. This policy document of the department has just been produced in a manageable pocket-sized booklet. It is crammed with information of how we intend giving effect to bringing about the correction of offending behaviour and the role that society should be playing in these processes. As service providers, you could be playing a critical role in the unfolding of our White Paper. But it is important that you acquaint yourselves with the contents of the White Paper.

In the same way that you have skilled your students, you must now familiarise yourselves with the contents of the White Paper in order to understand the supporting role that you can play. As service providers, you need to be forging sound working relationships with officials in my department. You need to understand that officials have their duties to perform and that your role is to be supportive in that regard. You must be providing a service in line with their requests. As partners, you have to combine your skills and efforts in bringing about the desired change in the lives of offenders. You must realise that our responsibility as Correctional Services is not limited to being custodial officials. While it is important that we play a critical role in the safety and security of the general public, it can be best achieved through the programmes that we have to implement with the inmates placed under our care.

As much as you provide some of the skills required in our programmes, as the responsible officials, we must ensure that it takes place in an environment and under circumstances that are conducive to promoting our core business of development and care.

You will be aware that on Freedom Day I made an announcement that certain categories of offenders will be considered for a remission of sentence. Now, I must sound an immediate word of caution in this regard. When the decision was taken to consider a remission of sentence, this was taken with due consideration of the safety and rights of the public of South Africa. We will never put the public at risk in granting remission of sentences to offenders. We will not allow any person onto the streets who could present a potential or unintended risk to the public. We are not and will not be soft on crime. In considering offenders for remission of sentence, we will evaluate each case and such qualifying offenders will have to undergo pre-release programmes before being placed on parole or under community corrections supervision.

Some of you being certificated this morning could qualify for this remission of sentence and if you do, I want to urge you to seriously think about your life before you are released. Go on your knees and discover what plan God has for you. It will be senseless if you return to your families and communities without changing your lives. If you are released and still do not change, know that we will have you back here sooner than what you think. We will not tolerate any further offences by you.

You will be brought back here and serve the remainder of your sentence in addition to any other sentences imposed by the courts for other offences. Know that we are giving you this one chance to change your lives. Take it. Use it. If you abuse it, we will come after you. Make no mistake; no amount of running away will do you any good. If you abuse our goodwill and the goodwill of the public, we will hound you and bring you back here.

I am calling on all inmates to be patient while the details of the announcement that I will be making in due course are finalised. We must make certain that those who deserve to qualify for remission are identified. This must then be followed by a series of processes to prepare such qualifying offenders. It will not just happen overnight. We will continue providing information as we work towards implementing the remission of sentences. Again, I want to appeal to all inmates to cooperate fully with my officials.

Allow me to again congratulate each one of you on your achievements. It is now up to you to use the skills that you acquired. In the case of those who can use their skills such as hairdressing and other trades, this might just be the chance for you to consider setting up small businesses. This is no pipedream. It can be a reality if you apply your mind to it. You can look at the possibilities of learning basic business practices to add to the skills you already have. As colleagues, you can consider entering into partnerships to set up a little company. Let no barriers hold you back. Be curious. Be adventurous and show that you can make a success of the rest of your life.

I look forward to the day when I can walk into your business and have my hair done or my beard trimmed by you or use your services in building, catering or whatever services you can offer.

When that happens, it would mean that we have succeeded in our objective of assisting you in turning your life around. Correctional Services is no longer a place where we keep you in safekeeping only. We want to be a place of new beginnings for you. We want to help you shape your lives. We want you to become proud South African citizens, building a better life for all.

Good luck to you all and may you achieve the goals that you set for yourselves.

I thank you.

Enquiries:
Graham Abrahams at:
Cell: 082 453 2244

Issued by: Ministry of Correctional Services 10 May 2005
   

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