BEHIND BARS: HOPE AND RESILIENCE OF INCARCERATED MOTHERS

Cuma Pantshwa

• During South Africa’s Corrections Week, DSD News highlights the challenges faced by mothers incarcerated while pregnant or with young children, showcasing the support systems available within correctional facilities.
• The Correctional Services Amendment Act (2008) has significantly reduced the time mothers can keep their children with them from five years to two, aiming to promote healthy socialisation and reintegration for infants.
• Social workers play a crucial role in providing parenting programmes, counselling, and support services, helping mothers navigate their circumstances while fostering meaningful connections with their children.

As South Africa observes Corrections Week, which emphasises the Department of Correctional Services (DCS)’s vital role in promoting a just, peaceful, and safer society, DSD News visited the Johannesburg Female Correctional Centre to illuminate the lives of mothers who are incarcerated while pregnant or who have been arrested with their babies.

Upon entering the mother-child unit, the harsh realities of incarceration were softened by glimpses of childhood innocence. Nestled within high walls, the playground, adorned with tiny scooters, seemed incongruous. Miniature vests, shorts, and blankets fluttered gently on the washing line, serving as poignant reminders of the small lives being nurtured within these confines.

Prior to 1994, female offenders with babies were not separated from the general female prison population. It was only in 1996 that the need for specialised care for this group was recognised, leading to the development of the ideal Female Correctional Centre.

The Correctional Services Amendment Act (Act No. 25 of 2008) was introduced to prioritise the interests of children in correctional facilities. According to the Act, incarcerated mothers are now allowed to stay with their children for two years (24 months) instead of five. This change aims to ensure that infants are reintegrated into society during their critical early development stages, allowing them to undergo socialisation in a nurturing environment. Once a child turns two, they are placed with suitable extended family members, foster care, or considered for adoption.

Lindi, a 45-year-old mother of a 22-month-old, who was arrested for several crimes including retail fraud, shared her anguish about the impending separation from her baby. “The social worker is helping me come to terms with it and is really supportive, as it’s going to be heart-breaking to be separated from him.” As she recounted her experience as a mother in incarceration, she noted that many mothers in the facility struggle with guilt, anxiety, and uncertainty regarding their children’s futures.

Section 12 of the Correctional Services Act stipulates that all offenders shall be assisted in maintaining contact with their families, friends, and communities.

Mary-Anne, a mother of four, expressed, “When I arrived here, I left three children outside, and for the first six months, I couldn’t have contact visits. Seeing your kids through the glass is extremely hard. I was then advised to speak to a social worker who could arrange a contact visit so that my children and I could hold and touch each other.”

A common theme among the mothers was the essential support provided by social workers in this unexpected sanctuary. Nonkululeko*, who lovingly rocks her baby to sleep, shared that she was arrested while two months pregnant for “defeating the ends of justice.” Discussing her living conditions at the centre, she said she felt empowered by the various rehabilitation programmes she has been attending since December 2023. “I started doing rehabilitation courses soon after I was sentenced, and I don’t intend to stop.”

Some of the courses offered by social workers include parenting programmes that teach essential parenting skills and promote healthy bonding sessions for mothers and their children. Other services provided include counselling for mothers, facilitating family visits, preparing for separation, and offering support once the baby has been removed from the facility.

At the end of the brightly painted corridor, a transformed classroom buzzed with energy. Little ones clapped and sang along to a nursery rhyme, their cheerful voices filling the air as their teacher guided them with a warm smile. Mary-Anne’s child attends the daycare. “The children usually go to crèche after breakfast from around 9 a.m. so they can play and socialise with the other babies. We fetch them at lunchtime, and once we’ve completed our chores by 3 p.m., our day ends and we have to be inside.”

Lindi eloquently highlighted that women face the “bad mother” narrative due to the persistent patriarchal view of women as nurturers and homemakers. She noted that their presence in a correctional facility contradicts societal expectations, but emphasised the valuable lessons she has learned from the women around her. “I can’t say I’m a perfect mother, but I’ve learned to bond with other women’s children. I’ve built a strong sisterhood with the ladies, and I’ve learned to share and persevere. I’ve gained so much here!”

As of 11 April 2024, the DCS housed a total of 157 incarcerated and pregnant women, as well as 230 mothers living with their babies in correctional facilities across the country. In conclusion, Lindi stated, “I felt it was important to maintain a relationship with my child for the first two years, as that is when a mother truly bonds with her child. I really appreciate that I was given that opportunity. Even though he has to go out, at least I enjoyed having him here.”

These mothers’ stories inspire hope and underscore the need for continued support and advocacy. As Corrections Week highlights the importance of rehabilitation and reintegration, the DCS continues to collaborate closely with various stakeholders, including the DSD and other government departments, to ensure the best interests of babies born to incarcerated mothers. This period serves as a time to renew our collective commitment to the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders, reminding us that we all play a role in building a just, compassionate, and inclusive society.