PRISONERS WHO SINGS LIKE ANGELS

South African prisoners are on the mission to better their life .Ones you become a convict  people turn to think of you as bad person .i think that is going to chage

Prisoners from the Eastern Cape (left) scored highly,
with props that included the kind of
weaponry usually denied them in
correctional centres. (Phillip de Wet, M&G)
I

 Prisoners who sing like angels

The department of correctional services hosted the national offender choir competition to showcase offenders' musical skills. Choral music is one of many rehabilitation tools used to assist offenders in their reintegration into society.

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The men with guns, it turned out, had nothing to worry about. Their prisoners may not have been in shackles or prison uniforms, and a little bit of determination and organisation would almost have guaranteed a successful escape. But this crowd was not about to put a foot wrong. Their futures depended on their behaviour and they had worked too hard to mar their records now. Also, their fellows would be liable to extract vicious retribution on anyone who spoilt the fun for everyone.

"For a few days, you feel that you are free," acting prisons commissioner Nontsikelelo Jolingana told the prisoners. "We hope that your behaviour won't embarrass us and force us to cancel activities of this nature."

 PRETORIA CENTRAL ESCAPE ALMOST RUINED IT

It must have been tempting to cancel the entire event when, just a week before, three inmates made it all the way out of Pretoria Central Prison in a blaze of public humiliation for the department of correctional services. But here was the same minister who had waggled her finger at those three dazed and bloodied would-be escapees in front of the television cameras, this time promising to reform the rules regarding keeping criminal records for at least some types of crimes to make it easier for former cons to get jobs.

• "It is not easy. Bear with us," said Correctional Services Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula of those reform efforts. "We realise it is the only way of assisting you so that you do not go back to a life of crime."

She spoke movingly of prisoners reaching out to their communities, of making prisons places of skills development rather than retribution, and of rewards for good behaviour.

• "This goes into your file towards a consideration when the time comes for parole," she told the prisoners, to an audible sigh. "The people who are here are people we believe want to be rehabilitated and are ready for reintegration into their communities."

Every body derseves a chance even hardcore criminals.You may be suprised of how they can chage.let us suppoort this people in their music,maybe some will realise that life is not all about doing bad things .