The juvenile inmates in the Makhado Correctional Service Centre closed Youth Month in style during an event held at the centre a fortnight ago. They participated in several traditional dances during the event, while their choir also performed.

Mr Tshilidzi Masikwa of the Thohoyandou Victim Empowerment Programme (TVEP) encouraged the juveniles to ensure that people with good influence surround them at all times. He also said that the future of a person was often a result of the decisions he made and he encouraged the prisoners never to let their situations deprive them of a wonderful future.

Mr Solomon Demane from the Makhado Correctional Services Centre said that it had become necessary to interact with different stakeholders in order to make them aware of how they were operating. “We have a mandate to look after offenders and to rehabilitate them while in prison. We should also work out the best way to assist ex-prisoners to make the best of their lives after their release. This is a mammoth task and we feel we will not succeed alone,” he added.

He emphasised that prisoners were normal “people like us. They have made their mistakes, but paid their dues. Let us regard them as reformed beings and help reintegrate them into society. It is our responsibility as a community to see this programme succeeding. Together, we can always do more,” he added.