As the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Ronald Lamola visited Vosloorus today on the 2nd of August 2021, he was welcomed by representatives of various organisations and community members who voiced out their concerns about the alarming rate of young people who are becoming convicts.
Makgomotso Mtimkulu a spiritual healer who usually works with offenders said that most young prisoners become discouraged if they are sentenced to life in prison and what exacerbates things is when they are continuously reminded that they will die in prison. He elaborated further saying that it saddens him, even more, when he sees young people unemployed because it is inevitable that they might end up in prison.
“I have been a spiritual healer for 17 years, but what I would like to emphasise today is that let us save our children before it’s too late because if we leave them to be demotivated by the disadvantaging conditions they usually find themselves in, it’s inevitable that they will end up in prison.
“Most young offenders become discouraged and worse if they are told that they will die in prison, it doesn’t rehabilitate them but it makes them worse.”
A man who usually coordinates and facilitates sports activities in the township, Sipho Dubazana divulged saying there’s talent in the township and sports can be instrumental in keeping most young people active and more on the receiving end of opportunities.“The Government doesn’t pay attention to the talent that’s available in the township, no wonder so many things are going wrong in the township, I wish the government can take it into consideration and invest in sports activities because that move on its own will prevent young people from indulging in unlawful activities,” he outlined.
The Minister of Justice and Correctional Services (Ronald Lamola) responded, stating, “It is evident that the infightings of the ruling party are affecting the development and growth of the country. We surely want to revive the sports activities in our country, especially in our schools, including recreational activities. In regards to unemployment, we are surely planning to create jobs for our young people, even in our correctional services sector we have skills development programmes and inmates get to be skilled,” Lamola divulged.
Matampane Raymond Mokwena
