Dept to create awareness of SA's correctional system

Friday, September 18, 2009

Pretoria - The Department of Correctional Services is to launch a week-long campaign to promote awareness and understanding of the South African correctional system next week.

Corrections Week will be launched by the Correctional Services Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.

Activities will be taking place across the country and at various corrections facilities and include exhibitions, church services, outreach programmes and open days for visits to facilities.

The week will culminate in celebrating African Corrections Day on Saturday.

According to the department, Corrections Week is high on its calendar and aims to showcase pockets of excellence, and seeks to promote awareness and understanding of the South African correctional system and more importantly encourage public participation and involvement in rehabilitation and social reintegration programmes.

The theme for the one week campaign is "Together doing more to break the cycle of crime".

The department said the theme was a call to work together to improve the efficacy of the correctional system and to reduce high levels of re-offending in South Africa.