Durban – The best learner in the Department of Justice and Correctional Services for the 2023 National Senior Certificate Examination is Benn Mathews Christopher.
Deputy Minister of Correctional Services Nkosi Phathekile Holomisa announced Christopher’s achievement on Tuesday at the awards ceremony inside Durban Westville Correctional Centre.
Saying he was “excited and proud of the continued work of transferring skills to inmates through education”, the deputy minister added: “We congratulate you for raising high the flag of correctional services, a welcome development we applaud.”
Christopher, who is from Brandvlei in the Western Cape, obtained an average of 86.14% with six distinctions in English First Additional Language (83%), Mathematics Literacy (86%), Life Orientation (85%), Business Studies (92%), Geography (89%) and Tourism (92%).
Deputy Minister Nkosi Holomisa revealed that for the first time in the history of correctional services, “we registered a female school in the 2023 academic year with the Department of Basic Education for the National Senior Certificate”.
He said the school at the Johannesburg Management Area achieved a pass rate of 62,5%, with 60% of the passes receiving a Bachelor’s pass. Malibongwe!
“Our pass rate in the Department of Correctional Services for full-time learners is an impressive 93.2%,” the deputy minister said.
“A bigger applause will do. A total of 137 out of 147 full-time candidates passed their 2023 National Senior Certificate exams.
“We also have part-time registered learners in DCS. When looking at their performance combined with full-time learners, we are observing a 84% pass rate, where 157 learners out of 187 passed.”
The deputy minister said 100 of these learners achieved Bachelor passes, 41 achieved Diploma passes and 16 achieved Higher Certificate passes.
“We also obtained 129 distinctions, with 39 in Life Orientation, 26 in Isizulu Home Language, 13 in Business Studies, 10 in Geography, and 4 in Mathematics Literacy to mention but a few,” said Deputy Minister Nkosi Holomisa.
Nine schools obtained a 100% pass rate and they are, Usethubeni Youth in KZN, Cradock in the Eastern Cape, Thuto Kitso in North West, Sicebengolwazi in KZN, Brandvlei Youth Centre in the Western Cape, Qalakabusha in KZN, Bokamoso in Limpopo, Baviaanspoort Youth Centre in Gauteng, and Ekuseni in KZN.
“We want to take this opportunity and profoundly appreciate efforts and interventions from the Departments of Basic Education in all provinces, which enable us to offer education to inmates and achieve good results,” said Deputy Minister Nkosi Holomisa.
“We equally extend our appreciation to all stakeholders, who are too many to mention for their valuable contributions without which our efforts of rehabilitating inmates and providing them with skills would not be realised.”
The deputy minister also dispelled any suggestions that the department was paying for the education of inmates.
“I want to remind all of you again as we do annually, that we do not pay tuition fees of inmates at institutions of higher learning, rather their families and bursaries carry the costs,” said Deputy Minister Nkosi Holomisa.
He told the inmates present that new opportunities were within reach for “our Class of 2023”.
The deputy minister added: “All that is needed from you is to focus and refrain from engaging in notorious activities of other inmates such as smuggling of contrabands and ill-discipline”.
Tackling another false suggestion, the deputy minister said: “As usual, some within society spread the incorrect and greatly exaggerated narrative that our correctional centres reflect hotels and holiday centres.
“‘We categorically reject this narrative and all inmates can attest to the fact that our centres are far from such luxurious centres often depicted in some media houses.
“What we can confirm is that all inmates are incarcerated in humane conditions in line with the Nelson Mandela Rules but that should never be equated to a luxurious life behind bars.”
The deputy minister said the Department of Correctional Services was implementing the Self-Sufficiency Strategic Framework, a tool that transfers skills to inmates where they produce their own food, and renovate public infrastructure such as schools, clinics, and orphanage centres.
“We have worked together with Departments of Education in the country to paint and renovate schools to ensure that learners attend classes in a conducive environment,” said Deputy Minister Nkosi Holomisa.
“We equally have built houses for the victims of crime who were living in dilapidated structures, and our inmates have restored the dignity of our people.
“Inmates have also established sustainable vegetable gardens in communities and schools to fight against hunger and poverty through the self-sufficiency and strategic framework.”
The deputy minister said today “some of our communities boast” of having plumbers, bricklayers, hair stylists, beautification specialists, bakers, and farmers, as a result of skills transferred to inmates during their term of incarceration.
“We have equally offered employers resourceful, gainful and adaptable employees who are contributing towards the growth of various companies across the country,” said Deputy Minister Nkosi Holomisa.
“All that we are appealing for is for employers not to overlook our skilled parolees but rather give them equal opportunities and pay them fairly for their labour.”
Deputy Minister Nkosi Holomisa said the department’s matric pass rate continues to be impressive and yearly soars above the national pass average.
“The investment we put in our education system year in and year out pays off with good returns,” he said.
“As I conclude, I want to reiterate that we remain resolute in making education compulsory for all young offenders, they must leave our correctional centres with skills which will empower them to live crime-free lives.
“This is in line with the Nelson Mandela Rules which stipulate the following: Imprisonment should not be limited to the deprivation of liberty, but that it should be a time for the re-education of inmates.”
Notable dignitaries in attendance included Kwa-Zulu Natal Education MEC Mbalenhle Frazer; Speaker of eThekwini Metro Cllr Thabani Nyawose; Kwa-Zulu Natal Chairperson of House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders Inkosi Sifiso Shinga; National Commissioner of Correctional Services, Makgothi Thobakgale and Kwa-Zulu Natal Regional Commissioner, Mnikelwa Nxele.
