Articles & News

August 18, 2008

Durban to support prison pilot project

By Nathi Olifant, http://www.iol.co.za

The eThekwini Municipality has cautiously accepted recommendations that it support a pilot project aimed at training and finding placement opportunities for young soon-to-be-released prisoners.

The project, dubbed the Cuban Model, was first presented to the council's expanded public works programme team by the labour and public works departments to get the council on board.

Zanele Dlamini, of the labour department's employment and skills development section, made a presentation yesterday to the council's health, safety and social services committee.

She said the idea was conceived in 2004 when a delegation went to Cuba, which had a low unemployment rate.

"This project of preparing and equipping soon-to-be-released prisoners was then decided upon. After doing a comparative analysis between Cuba and South Africa, the government decided to pilot the Cuban model."

Dlamini said the aim was to equip prisoners with skills, including life orientation, in preparation for their reintegration into society.

However, the committee questioned the viability and sustainability of the project in light of the high rate of unemployment.

Councillors questioned whether there were no other means to reintegrate the prisoners. They asked Dlamini if her department had done a survey to ascertain the feelings of the prisoners' respective communities.

"Does this not create a perception that you need to go to jail first before attaining skills? How about those already integrated into society?" asked ANC councillor Vusi Khoza.

Another councillor said the project was reactive in its approach. He said the two departments should have looked at measures to prevent young people from going to jail.

As one of the recommendations, a memorandum of understanding will be drawn up between the labour department and the municipality with clear terms of reference, roles and responsibilities.