Halfway house for ex-prisoners
Edwin Tshivhidzo
4 November 2004
A new home for ex-prisoners who do not have a place to go to after their release from prison, the first of its kind in the country, was officially opened in Orlando, Soweto this week.
Ikhaya Loxolo, situated at the old Orlando hostel, is a joint venture between inter-denominational Christian organisation Christian Services and the Department of Correctional Services.
Ex-prisoners will not only be accommodated there, they will also be taught life skills and receive help in re-integrating them into the society. It is hoped that the "halfway house" will help reduce a recidivism rate currently estimated at over 80 percent.
"We are concerned by the number of ex-prisoners who commit other crimes after they have been released, so we felt we should take care of them and rehabilitate them further so they can stay away from crime", said Christian Services secretary Rosemary Faure.
Currently, Ikhaya Loxolo has four ex-prisoners and can
accommodate up to 24 males in a healthy environment, encouraging employment opportunities, skills development and community responsibility.
The first ex-prisoner to be taken in at the home was 36-year-old Dudu Molefe, recently released after spending two-and-half years in jail for housebreaking.
Molefe was due to be released in June this year, but this was delayed because there was no one to sign for his release, his parents having died while he was still young. Ikhaya Loxolo, together with other church organisations, signed for his release.
Christian Services has been providing care and support for prisoners and their families in Johannesburg Correctional Services for more than 10 years, and the home has long been a dream of Faure and Christian Services chairperson Eddie Walters.
Speaking at the official opening, Inspecting Judge of Prisons Judge JJ Fagan said there was a need for society to be involved in the rehabilitation of prisoners. "We do not need
more prisons", Judge Fagan said. "What we need is a joint venture in the rehabilitation of prisoners."
He said the public had an active role to play in reducing prison overcrowding in the country, and called on communities to welcome ex-prisoners back into society, since they had already paid the price for they crimes they had committed.
Plans are under way to have many such homes established throughout the country.
Source: BuaNews
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