Durban – The National Commissioner of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) Makgothi Samuel Thobakgale on Wednesday awarded competency certificates to 22 graduates of the 12-month New Venture Creation Learnership Level 2.
Commissioner Thobakgale handed competency certificates to parolees, probationers, and victims of crime at the Durban Central Centre (Westville), KwaZulu-Natal.
The graduates were trained to start and manage their own businesses, and how to source opportunities within the public and private sector.
The New Venture Creation Learnership, funded by the Safety and Security Education and Training Authority (SASSETA), assists potential and existing entrepreneurs to start or grow their businesses.
The SASSETA-sponsored leadership helps entrepreneurs to be part of the mainstream economy by collaborating with the Kilideen Management Services (KMS).
Commissioner Thobakgale explained that the program was about giving the candidates the skills to create new businesses.
He said the group that graduated were parolees, victims of crime, and probationers.
“The department as the correctional services has the responsibility to correct and rehabilitate offenders after they have been sentenced to serve their facilities,” said Commissioner Thobakgale.
“When they are inside, they are given skills and education opportunities.”
Commissioner Thobakgale said the DCS was working with other government department agencies, businesses, and community members to ensure that parolees were rehabilitated, and reintegrated into their community.
He said part of doing that involved providing skills and deployment opportunities.
Parolee, 33-year-old Phakamani Gwala, said obtaining the certificate was important to him.
Freed from prison on parole, Gwala said though it was a struggle to complete the programme, he can now start his own business.
“The difficulties I encountered throughout this learnership have been financial in nature,” he said.
He said the cost of transport to and from school was not always affordable.
Gwaka said sometimes he had to use his stipend for food to pay for transport.
Another candidate, 29-year-old Sanele Gumede said before he enrolled in the programme he had worked in the construction industry for years, where he experienced victimisation from criminals.
He said the programme helped him develop new skills and broaden his understanding of businesses.
Gumede believes that with his certificate, he can start his own business provided he secures the necessary funding.
Kilideen Management Services facilitator, Nomvuyelelo Mphetshwa, admitted that candidates participating in the programme had encountered challenges.
As a result, some candidates failed to attend lessons every day.
Mphetshwa said considering the challenges, graduating was a massive achievement.
“Today is the biggest reward, seeing the candidate graduate and celebrating the success of the project,” remarked Mphetshwa.
