Sun City engages in rehabilitation of prisoners

However, in a far-sighted and innovative programme in operation in the North West, the provincial Department of Correctional Services has partnered with Sun City Casino to turn this dilemma into a win-win situation.

Many prisoners are young, uneducated and unskilled, and lacking in support from family or their communities. To address this problem, the provincial authorities have introduced a halfway house which cares for the immediate needs of the parolees, while equipping them with practical skills they need to find jobs.

Bricks dry quickly

The project forms part of Sun City's enterprise development programme, and the company has made a brick-making machine available for the parolees. While some prisoners make bricks, others are taught to build homes, as well as classrooms and clinics in needy areas.

The interlocking bricks are made by compressing soil and, unlike concrete or clay bricks, they require only four to five days to dry. After the foundation slab has been laid, it takes approximately 17 days to make and stack the bricks. Once complete, the homes are plastered inside and the property fenced in.

The 16 square meter homes built with the bricks consist of two bedrooms and an open plan kitchen and lounge area. The properties also include water storage tanks to make the most of rain water. The properties are large enough for families to expand their homes when they are able to do so.

Rehabilitation needs reformation

Since 2001, a total of 39 houses, three clinics and several school classrooms have been built using this method. The clinics now serve a community of approximately 50 000 who previously had to travel great distances for even rudimentary medical treatment.

In addition to using the parolees, Sun City has also sourced local skilled and unskilled labour and suppliers to assist with the building programme.

"We are immensely proud to be associated with this programme. We believe there can't be true rehabilitation unless we put the opportunity for reformation in place. We are also pleased to be able to assist the paroles while at the same time meet the urgent need for infrastructure in our communities, and to draw on local enterprise to assist with each project," according to Dan Ntsala, public affairs executive at Sun City.