RESTORATIVE LEARNING IN ACTION: AT-RISK LEARNERS EXPOSED TO CONSEQUENCES OF CRIME IN EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVE

By Tshepiso Matona.

•  ⁠The initiative included an educational visit to Bizza Makgate Correctional Centre, offering risk learners a sobering, real-world perspective on the consequences of crime and poor decision-making.
• Learners engaged in facilitated discussions with correctional officials and inmates, gaining insight into the importance of discipline, education, and personal accountability.
• The programme forms part of the Secure Care Center’s broader strategy to promote restorative discipline and reduce youth delinquency through proactive, community-based outreach.

The Free State Department of Social Development, through the Winkie Direko Secure Care Center (SCC), launched an initiative to address disciplinary challenges and prevent crime among learners at Caleb Motshabi Primary School. As part of this effort, a group of identified at-risk learners was taken on an educational visit to the Bizza Makgate Correctional Centre in Kroonstad.
The visit formed part of the Secure Care Center’s early intervention programme, designed to guide vulnerable youth away from antisocial behaviour and toward constructive life choices by promoting accountability, self-discipline, and the value of education. Learners participated in meaningful dialogues led by officials from both the Secure Care Center and the correctional facility. Inmates also shared personal testimonies, reflecting on the decisions that led to their incarceration and the enduring consequences they face—offering learners a powerful and authentic perspective on the real-life impact of poor choices.
Officials from both the Secure Care Center and the Correctional Facility facilitated discussions with the learners on the long-term consequences of negative behaviour, the importance of personal responsibility, and the transformative power of education. Inmates shared personal stories reflecting on the decisions that led to their incarceration and the life-altering impact of those choices—offering learners a powerful, firsthand insight into the realities of crime and its consequences.
The initiative is part of ongoing efforts to build safer communities through early intervention and behavioral support. Educators from Caleb Motshabi Primary School, who accompanied the learners, expressed appreciation for the program and its potential to redirect at-risk youth toward a more responsible and focused path.
This visit is one of many community outreach efforts led by the Winkie Direko Secure Care Center, demonstrating a strong commitment to restorative discipline and youth development.