Drakenstein: Exactly 36 years after Nelson Mandela's historic release from prison, President Cyril Ramaphosa inaugurated the Nelson Mandela Rules Training Academy at Drakenstein Correctional Facility, signaling a shift toward a more humanised correctional system in South Africa.

According to South African Government News Agency, President Ramaphosa marked the occasion with a personal visit to the Madiba House, the residence where Mandela spent his final years of imprisonment. It was at the former Victor Verster Prison where Mandela's release symbolized the dawn of democracy. During his visit, Ramaphosa reflected on the emotions of anticipation, fear, and hope that accompanied Mandela's release.

The President described the opening of the academy as a moment of both personal and national significance. Recalling the day of Mandela's release as a historic event, Ramaphosa shared his concerns about Mandela's safety at the time, fearing for the leader's security under the apartheid regime. He revealed that he and Reverend Mkhatshwa had even traveled to Sweden for training on how to protect Mandela.

Ramaphosa emphasized that the new academy is more than just a building; it represents a story of dignity, second chances, and justice anchored in humanity. The academy's artwork, created by offenders, symbolizes rehabilitation and the unlocking of human potential.

The President addressed the national frustration with crime and acknowledged the temptation for harsh retribution. He stressed the importance of offender rehabilitation, reintegration into society, and preventing re-offending as essential components in overcoming crime in South Africa.

Highlighting the challenges ex-offenders face, such as social stigma and unemployment, Ramaphosa declared that the Nelson Mandela Rules Training Academy aims to break this cycle and change the trajectory for offenders.

The opening of the academy at Drakenstein, where Mandela once walked to freedom, serves as a powerful symbol of the transition from incarceration to liberation, and from punishment to rehabilitation. The facility represents the humanisation of corrections and the pursuit of justice rooted in humanity.

In his concluding remarks, President Ramaphosa paid tribute to the Department of Correctional Services staff, acknowledging their demanding yet often unrecognized contributions to the public service.