'They are not scum'
Oct 16, 2009
from the article on iol.co.za:
Churches should speak out strongly when they encountered abuse in prisons, Deputy Minister of Correctional Services Hlengiwe Mkhize said on Monday.
Addressing a Cape Town conference on pastoral care in prisons, she said people of faith of all religions were supposed to be "the moral authority of the most vulnerable".
They had to be vigilant and speak out on violations of the Constitution and the Correctional Services Act.
"We expect the church and other faith-based organisations to take a strong stance when deaths in correctional centres are reported and when offenders are deprived of other rights and privileges such as parole," she said.
....Mkhize said the church and faith communities also had a crucial role in promoting restorative justice.
"For instance, spiritual workers must take the lead in creating peace in our communities by reconciling affected parties and in healing the wounds of crime," she said.
Speaking at the same conference, Inspecting Judge of Prisons Deon van Zyl said prisoners could become useful members of society if they were given the right opportunity.
Churches had an incredibly important role as a link between prisoners and the community, by educating the community to accept released inmates.
"They are not scum," he said.
