VONDWE – The community of Vondwe and the surrounding areas will benefit from the Poverty Alleviation and Rural Development Program, which was launched by the Minister of Correctional Services, Mr Ben Skosana at the Thohoyandou Central Prison on Monday morning.

According to Skosana, this is a continuation of the project which was launched by Deputy-President Jacob Zuma on April 10 this year, at Zonderwater Prison.

Thohoyandou prison has allocated a piece of land to be cultivated by prisoners and the community to grow vegetables that would be supplied to poor communities, old age homes and school feeding schemes. The Local Community Authority in Thohoyandou will decide on the names of institutions that will benefit from the program.

The official opening of the project was attended by the MEC for Education, Dikeledi Magadzi, MEC for Transport Dr Tshenuwani Farisani, Khosi Midiyavhathu Tshivhase, Vhembe District Mayor Sam Moeti, Thulamela Mayor Chief Thulawi Makumbane, PAC leader Nicholas Dangale, the community and the prisoners. Skosana said the opening of the project was part of the rehabilitation program where prisoners are trained in various skills. This also assists the department to strive for self-sufficiency in terms of the provision of food, bedding, clothing and furniture for prisoners.

On the same day the entourage proceeded to Mutshalingwana Primary where he was joined by the community of Vondwe village, near Thohoyandou, to hand over three classrooms built by prisoners from Thohoyandou Central prison to the MEC for education in Limpopo, Joyce Mashamba.

"Our department has decided to respond to the President's call to all of us to contribute to poverty alleviation and rural development and embrace the spirit of 'Letsema' and 'Vuk Uzenzele' as he pronounced in his 'State of the Nation' address.

Skosana stated that the department decided to employ the services of prisoners who have since built the three classrooms. The community collected funds for purchasing the building materials. "This is commendable as the people of Vondwe did not wait for assistance from the Government but took the initiative to contribute significantly. About twenty prisoner took part in the construction exercise and they benefited as they managed to acquire new skills in building work, carpentry, welding and others," said Skosana who also added that the classrooms would benefit more than 450 pupils and the future generation.

Skosana said the poverty alleviation strategy would find further expression in other provinces, which are already in the process of identifying other projects to support this program. He appealed to other non-governmental and community-based organizations to join hands with the Correctional Services in these endeavors.

In her speech, Magadzi said the opening of the classes shows that "our country, which for centuries has bled from thousands of wounds, is progressing towards it healing. The call for a nation at work for a better life for all our people is a call that our people are taking seriously, as demonstrated by this project."

Prisoners also fixed broken chairs table, desks and painted the entire school. Skosana said the project was part of a typical example of a "Nation at Work" for the betterment of the lives of all South Africa.

The children of Mutshalingwana will no longer experience difficult learning conditions under the trees or shelters or rainy days. "Pres Thabo Mbeki has indicated that the government will ensure that no child attends school under a tree and Correctional Services are responding to this call," said Skosana.