23-04-2025
Anti-crime project takes local learners on tour of prison
Learners from three Mamelodi schools embarked on a tour to Emthonjeni Youth Correctional Centre in the Baviaanspoort prison recently.
The tour on April 22 was a build-up to the Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Tommy Mthombeni's school project.
Mthombeni's projects form part of the crime awareness campaign in schools and Department of Correctional Services facilities.
Police spokesperson, Sergeant Daphney Maila said they partnered with Mamelodi police stations, CPF, Department of Correctional Services, Department of Community Safety, Moses Mabhida Foundation and Teenage Ministry Movement.
Maila said the learners who participated in the tour were from Solomon Mahlangu Freedom High School, Modiri Technical High School and Bona Lesedi High School.
'The learners were identified by the principals of the schools according to the different challenges,' said Maila.
Constable Penelope Khulong from Mamelodi East police station said prison wardens facilitating the tour indicated that they were disappointed at the number of learners.
The learners were visiting the facility due to bad behaviour, instead of visiting places such as museums, art galleries or even sports facilities, environments that are meant to build young minds.
Khulong said the wardens said the name of the facility, Emthonjeni, means 'a water spring', so the centre is there to wash away that which was bad and enable inmates to rectify the mistakes of their past.
She said the wardens further highlighted that crime is not something that should be glorified, but learners can change their ways so they do not have to end up in prison.
Learners were given a tour of the different parts of the prison and glimpsed the daily life of inmates.
In the last part of the tour, learners had an interactive session with four male inmates who were imprisoned for crimes such as murder, business robbery and common robbery.
The inmates each gave an account of what led them to a life of crime for learners to understand that bad behaviour, such as bullying, assaulting one another and gang activity, will only lead to prison.
They further encouraged learners to respect their peers, teachers and most importantly, their parents.
A representative from the Teenage Ministry Movement closed the session with a prayer and applauded all the stakeholders for their effort in building better communities.
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