Art introduced to rehabilitate prisoners

Lusanda Bill
28 May 2013

Correctional Services Minister Sibusiso Ndebele on Monday launched the Arts Behind Bars’ programme in Goodwood. 

This is one way the department is trying to rehabilitate prisoners by encouraging them to take up painting or poetry. 

Western Cape Regional Commissioner of Correctional Services Delekile Klaas said an arts specialist has been hired to polish the prisoner’s arts skills further.  Klaas said in the past we had situations whereby prisoners were producing art but the art was exploited because they were not able to get value for money.

Klass added that through the art gallery we would be able to correctly price and showcase their art correctly.

The department will deposit the money from the sell of the paintings into the prisoner’s bank account so when they are released they can stand on their own and not depend on people for financial assistants.