GEORGE NEWS - The National Library of South Africa (NLSA) in collaboration with the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) and George Municipality hosted the 10th Funda Mzantsi Championship in George, Western Cape from 23 to 27 September 2019 under the theme "Building Creative Minds".
Judge John Hlophe (Judge President of the Western Cape Division of the High Court of South Africa) was the keynote speaker. He explained the mindset of a Judge when judging an offender. He linked reading and rehabilitation and said Funda Mzantsi seeks to empower the offender.
"This is a deliberate attempt to generate your interest to education in a progressive step in the right direction. We would like you to belong to society in a second chance. We need to except offenders back into the community once there is evidence that they are rehabilitated," he said.
He said reading and learning is not a once-off thing. It is an ongoing process.
Dignitaries at the opening of the Funda Mzantsi at Eden Church in George are front from left: James Smallberger (Acting Regional Commissioner, KwaZulu-Natal), Judge Gayaat Salie-Hlophe (wife of Judge John Hlophe), Judge John Hlophe (Judge President of the Western Cape Division of the High Court of South Africa, Ald Melvin Naik, Executive Mayor of George, Brig. PV Cetyana, Eden Cluster: Police. At the back from left are Ndileka Booi (Correctional Services), Dr Eddy Maisela Maepa, (Director: National Library of South Africa), Janine Sweeney, ( Regional Manager: Liberty Life), Simphiwo James (Director of Corporate Services, George Municipality), Cllr Sean Snyman (Portfolio Councillor of Community Development, Sports and Libraries at George Municipality), Dilikile Klaas (Regional Commissioner: Western Cape), Gerty Potts (Coordinator of Funda Mzantsi at George Municipality Libraries), Odwa Mwazi (Liberty Life).
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