Hon Speaker, the ANC believes that the service in correctional centres - hitherto called prisons - must play its part not simply in restraining convicted persons, but in rehabilitating and training them.
As a result of this policy, 170 inmates from prisons across Gauteng graduated from the University of South Africa on Wednesday, 8 September 2010. They were awarded their certificates, diplomas and degrees during a graduation ceremony at the Pretoria Correctional Centre. Amongst the graduates was a top achiever, 63-year-old Casper Greeff, who was awarded a doctorate in Biblical Archaeology.
Geluk, eerwaarde dominee dokter Greeff. [Congratulations, venerable Reverend Doctor Greeff.]
Inmates who study receive no special treatment and still have to deal with the challenges of being in a correctional centre, which make the achievements of those who graduated even more remarkable.
The ANC affirms that education will go a long way towards helping inmates with their rehabilitation process, and commends the significant role played by the Department of Correctional Services in making it possible for inmates to learn and acquire skills while in correctional centres. The ANC encourages the department to step up these programmes. I thank you. [Applause.]
Order! That concludes Members' Statements. Before I take the Ministers' Responses, I would like to say that although there are 21 members of the executive, that is Ministers and Deputy Ministers, present in the House, I can only take six responses. Are there any Ministers' Responses?