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MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Mossel Bay Municipality, the Department of Correctional Services, Hope Prison Ministries officials and representatives of civil society organisations recently held a successful pilot community imbizo in Mossel Bay as part of the process to reintegrate ex-offenders and parolees back into their communities within the Garden Route.

The programme will eventually be extended to Hessequa, Knysna and Oudtshoorn in the build-up to International Men's Day on 19 November.

The two-day imbizo focused on several issues, among others the rights and privileges of victims and the importance of Victim Offender Dialogue (VOD) and the preparations needed for Victim Offender Dialogue.

Special focus was placed on remission and its impact, with emphasis on the identification of the five types of victims, while attention was also given to Restorative Justice Principles.

Photo gallery: Imbizo on integrating ex-offenders

Representatives of the National Commissioner of Correctional Services, the office of the area commissioner and the national office of the Department of Correctional Services attended the imbizo.

Mossel Bay executive mayor, Alderman Harry Levendal, welcomed the initiative. In an opening address, Mayor Levendal said the collaboration between the local and national government was a necessary part of the programme to establish social cohesion in town.

"You have touched on the need for mutual respect. Respect for one another should be the underlying principle to guide us also in this endeavour."

The programme places emphasis on the following solutions:

• More awareness campaigns on government programmes and campaigns to help people better their lives
• Stakeholder and community collaboration in addressing the issue of crime, substance abuse, and unemployment
• Working together in addressing the challenges faced by the community
• More government programmes at a local level.

It is hoped the programme will result in a community that feels appreciated and confident the government has not forgotten about it.

Civil society, church leaders and community leaders who would like to be part of the initiative may contact Alma Kritzinger (044 606 5251 or akritzinger@mosselbay.gov.za) for more information.

The stakeholders in the imbizo from Mossel Bay Municipality, the Department of Correctional Services, Hope Prison Ministries officials and representatives of civil society organisations.

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