9 17 6 - Correctional Services

M A N A G E M E N T N E W S
Viva Imbeleko
By Estelle Coetzee
Eastern Cape Female Correctional Centre was abuzz on 26
August this year as preparations for the launch of the Imbeleko
project culminated into a successful event.
Almost at the onset of their term in
May this year, Minister Nosiviwe
Mapisa-Nqakula and Deputy
Minister Hlengiwe Mkhize made
their intentions clear about the
plight of babies in correctional
centres.
Although the law determines
that incarcerated mothers with
babies younger than two
years may keep their
infants with them
behind bars it does
not prevent social
workers to seek
and find alternative
care for them
before they reach
the age of two,
should the circumstances
of
the baby allow
for it.
Hence the birth of
project Imbeleko,
which evokes the African
tradition of embracing
a new born
and in this context
it invites the community
to embrace
babies behind bars.
With the Imbeleko initiative, the department
is sending out a call to communities to provide
the traditional warm skin, to hold these
babies close to their hearts and provide love
and care so that they can return to society and
grow up in a normal family situation.
Simple yet effective. The playground attests
to the fact that initiative and motivation
drive achievement.
Imbeleko is a two-pronged strategy. Firstly,
it is about looking at alternative placement of
babies out of correctional centres. Secondly,
it focuses internally by creating conducive
environments for babies.
At practical level in a correctional centre
Imbeleko translates into establishing a warm
and baby-friendly environment in the sections
where the mothers are kept with their
babies. It is here where the usual cold cell
JULY/AUGUST 2009
Deputy Minister Hlengiwe Mkhize connects
with one of the baby’s in the Eastern Cape’s
Female Correctional Centre during the
launch of the Imbeleko project.
floor makes room for a carpet as babies spend
lots of time on the floor. It is also here where
colour should abound and space be created
for a crèche complete with toys and a playground.
The normal development of these
toddlers is of paramount importance as well
as exposure to the external environment.
Eastern Cape Female Correctional Centre
lived up to all these expectations when
Deputy Minister Hlengiwe Mkhize launched
project Imbeleko at this East London facility
on 26 August. With the help of NGOs, business
and individuals as far afield as Port Elizabeth,
the mother-and-baby communal cell,
the crèche and the playground were trans-
Service providers who answered the call for
assistance establishing a warm and friendly
environment in the crèche interact with
some of the babies.
formed into pastel-coloured cots and beds,
colourful bed linen, neat curtains covering
the window bars, lots of toys and a carpet in
the crèche, and a simple yet functional playground
in the courtyard.
Both the Deputy Minister and the Regional
Commissioner for Eastern Cape, Nontsikelelo
Jolingana reiterated the department’s resolve
that “prison is not a place for children”.
“Developmental psychologists have taught
us that the children’s physical, emotional, social
and intellectual needs must all be met if
they are to enjoy life, develop their full potential
and grow into participating, contributing
adults. There is no doubt the environment is
of overriding importance to the development
of the child,” said Deputy Minister Mkhize.
Further explaining Imbeleko project, the
deputy minister said it “is a two-pronged
strategy which seeks to do what is in the best
interest of the child. Firstly, we seek to create
a child friendly environment within our
facilities, while the children are with their
incarcerated mothers. Secondly, we seek to
find alternative, secure protection centres,
either with the extended family or government
institutions or private homes for these
children.”
In 2008 the Correctional Services Act was
amended and one of the key features was to
Continued on page 4