Children in Prison in South Africa - Community Law Centre

trial- are the responsibility of the Department of Welfare.The Department of Correctional Services is responsibleonly for their-safe custody.An exception to this is North-End Prison in PortElizabeth where all prisoners, including those whowere unsentenced and awaiting trial, are given theopportunity to attend school. There are limitedfacilities provided, although researchers were toldthat the prison receives assistance from AdultBasic Education and Training (ABET) which providesresources, training and teaching equipment.Prisoners at North End are also allowed to apply for \correspondence courses, and high school studentsare registered at the school in Magxaki and may writethe examinations. The school provides the syllabus,exam papers and monitors the exams.Technical training opportunities"Every juvenile should have the right to receivevocational training in occupations likely to preparehim or her for future employment. " (UN RULES 42)At some institutions, technical education and trainingis provided.At Barberton, for example, there is an 'impressiverange' of training and production workshops wherecourses in metal work, sisal work, needlework,knitting, woodwork and building are offered. At thisfacility, staff said that they hoped to introduceelectrical and plumbing workshops in due course.External examiners evaluate the work of prisoners.Some of the products made are sold at markets andthe money used to develop the recreation facilities. Inthe woodwork section, prisoners were making fingerboards for recreational purposes. Prisoners were alsopaid between R7 and R30 for their work.At Barberton, all interviewees were involved in trainingor education, or were working in the fields. Only onecomplained, saying that the trade he wished to pursuewas not offered at the prison. Most said they wanted toimprove themselves in prison and learn a skill which .they could apply when they were released.levels N1 to N4 were offered. However, researcherswere told that to go beyond N1, prisoners have to betransferred to the Medium B prison. At Leeuwkop, theresearcher commented on impressive workshops wherecarpentry, wire work, clay work, metal work, and bricklaying are amongst the trades taught. At Virginia,however, although some of the boys expressed aninterest in learning trades, no facilities were available.The Ekuseni Youth Development Centre was supposedto have embarked on a major educational and vocationalprogramme, with a variety of trades to be offered tochildren. At the time of the visit, however, it was notclear that this had materialised to the extent planned.External assistanceSometimes NGOs, educational institutions and religiousorganisations provide programmes for the prisoners.Graceways, a Christian.organisation, offers bothvocational training and arts and crafts classes at theWestville Youth Centre. By these'means, the organisationaims to contribute to the rehabilitation of juvenilesthrough the development of skills. Graceways also runsa halfway house from which they organise contractwork. It was noted that the Christian aspect of theirmission is 'underplayed'.At North End Prison, the Eastern Cape TrainingCollege provides training programmes in carpentry,plastering, building and bus driving.At the Westville Women's Prison, although a legalskills course is provided to adults, it is not availableto juveniles or children.At Rustenburg prison, where there is a primaryschool, NICRO and the public education departmentassist students to continue their studies thoughcorrespondence.At Thohoyandou, the University of Venda plans toprovide a Prison Extension Programme,.teaching musicand street law, and providing social work services.Top students at Brandvlei and prisoners elsewhereparticipate in Presidential Awards projects which mayinvolve, amongst other things, outside field trips.At the Westville Vocational Centre, courses were offeredin bricklaying, carpentry, welding and joinery. AtPollsmoor, National Technical Training Certificates through