For those being held on remand, the Department of Justice and Correctional Services (DCS) has started a pioneering life skills program.
On Tuesday, the unveiling took place at the Polokwane Correctional Facility in Limpopo.
“The life skills program for remand inmates is intended to promote self-empowerment, deter crime, and raise awareness. It will also help them improve their coping mechanisms. According to Departmental Deputy Minister Nkosi Phathekile Holomisa, this might help remand inmates become oriented, aid in their adjustment to the remand detention facilities, and let them make choices about their day-to-day experiences.
He said some 46 692 remand detainees held in facilities across the country would have access to the programme which covers, among others, the following areas:
General life skills focusing on emotional wellbeing, emotional intelligence
Problem solving instead of committing crime to resolve their challenges
Addressing addictive behaviour related to substance abuse and any other addictive behaviour
Dealing with peer pressure
Conflict management
Restoration of relationships
Domestic violence and its impact
Anger management skills
Holomisa emphasized that the program would be operated voluntarily and won’t interfere with their impending proceedings.
The program’s parameters will be determined by the fact that remand inmates have the right to be assumed innocent and won’t be given programs based on alleged accusations until the courts order them.
According to Nkosi Holomisa, “Programs presented should be adaptable since remand inmates are a highly unpredictable and variable population whose period of incarceration is outside the control of the institutions.
In addition to this program, remand inmates have taken advantage of a number of other ones under the direction of the White Paper on Remand Detention Management.
“Because remand inmates are assumed innocent unless proved guilty, they have been getting these services as and when required.
The following important services are presently provided to remand prisoners, and the life skills program is only one of the most recent additions. specifically, services in spiritual guidance, healthcare, social work, therapeutic treatments, and education. stated Nkosi Holomisa.