She says the idea that inmates must be locked up and have the keys thrown away can longer exist in society.

She adds that she personally took it upon herself and made a commitment to bring change in the region after she felt like the region was neglected. Moodley says the inmates should and must continue to be the ambassadors of reading and writing to their fellow inmates.

Moodley was delivering her keynote address during a congratulatory lunch for inmates held at the Tswelopelo Correctional Facility Center in Kimberley in the Northern Cape on Thursday 3 October 2019.

One of the inmates at the centre, Tshiamo Ngakaemang, attributed love, humility and strong family bonds to their tremendous achievement after scooping 34 awards at the Correctional Services Department's competition in George in the Western Cape.

Ngakaemang said what inspired their performance at this competition was also drawn from their hard work, team spirit and love shared amongst each other.

He says after he was arrested at least five years ago and later transferred to this centre, he felt the sense of humility and love while they as inmates were trying to self-correct their history and the mistakes they made.

Ngakaemang, who is left with just seven months before being eligible to be released on parole, attributes a good behaviour as the key to their success.

Of the 146 book clubs, which included schools, universities and community book clubs, the inmates attained position 1 and scooped a whopping 34 trophies. Moodley says the programme also went as far as different townships to try and instil a culture of learning and reading.

OFM News