Offenders at the Thohoyandou Correctional Centre in Limpopo were urged not to commit crimes when they are released and they have to live harmoniously within their respective communities.

This call was made by the chairperson of the constitutional development committee of the National House of Traditional Leaders, Nkxosi Kgomotso Kekana, during a two-day visit to correctional centers in Limpopo. The visit took place last week.

On Thursday, the committee visited the centre in Vondwe village. “We want offenders not to commit any crime as soon as they are released. We urge them to play a meaningful role in the communities they will be living in. Crime does not pay and we hope the traditional leaders will motivate the former offenders to serve the communities and encourage them not to commit crime,” said Kekana. He said the house intended to work together with the Department of Correctional Services in integrating and rehabilitating offenders.

The acting area commissioner of the Thohoyandou Centre, Mr Kenneth Mthombeni, said the visit was confirming the message that the rehabilitation of offenders was the social responsibility of the community. “Through the national house of traditional leaders, we will be able to go back to the basis of reclaiming traditional leaders’ role as the custodians of restorative justice. We want traditional leaders to help in monitoring the prisoners when they are on parole as they will be living with them in the areas of traditional leaders,” said Mthombeni.