Ndebele addressed more than 1,200 religious leaders and officials at the East London Correctional Centre as part of finding solutions to South Africa's high rate of imprisonment.
According to a statement released by his department, Ndebele reiterated that rehabilitating criminals is a societal responsibility.
"We call upon religious leaders to play a more active role in our concerted efforts to heal victims of crime, and rehabilitate offenders so that they return to society as better human beings," said Ndebele.
Government would not win the battle against crime and reoffending if victims of crime, and the religious community, are not at the centre of the justice system he said.
Ndebele said the religious community can encourage moral regeneration coupled with basic values and cultures and be more prominent with its role in rehabilitation.
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