THOHOYANDOU - On Friday, the prisoners of Thohoyandou Matatshe Prison in Limpopo Province received certificates for participation in the building of additional classrooms and toilets at different schools around Limpopo.

Thousands of people, including dignitaries from different departments and communities, congratulated the prisoners on their accomplishment for the community. Some of the prisoners who are on parole, also received certificates of competency in furniture production from the Northern Training Trust at Lwamondo in Venda.

The head of Correctional Services Development and care services in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West, Mr Matsemela Johannes Makgoba, said that Correctional Services have decided to hand over the certificates all around South Africa, to prisoners who rendered them assistance in education and in the community.

"The prisoners are human beings like you, so the community must welcome prisoners and provide them with jobs, after their release," said Makgoba. The MP and chairperson portfolio transport in Limpopo,Thovhele Kennedy Tshivhase, said that the aim of the Department of Correctional Services, as indicated in some of the department's publications, is to contribute towards maintaining and protecting the just, peaceful and safe custody, as well as promoting the social responsibility and human development of all prisoners and persons subject to community corrections.

He stated that it was the first time that he witnessed that type of an occasion, where prisoners under community corrections were being trained for the purpose of developing them.

The Northern Training Trust operation manager, Azwindini Masia, said that their institution is jointly run with the Departments of Labour and Correctional Services, to help the prisoners to become employable, self- employed and improve their quality of life.