Unisa celebrates academic excellence at the Mangaung Correctional Centre

Unisa held graduations and awards ceremony at the Mangaung Correctional Centre on 29 April 2026. The ceremony served as recognition for incarcerated individuals’ excellent academic progress, and as part of the centre’s rehabilitation interventions geared at transforming and preparing them to reintegrate into society.

In her address, Professor Dorothy Mmakgwale Farisani, Unisa’s Director of the School of Law in the College of Law (CLAW), said that Unisa’s transformation journey is grounded on excellence. She added: “The university also demonstrates that it is possible to build a society where the potential of women and men, including the youth, can be harnessed to build a united, peaceful, and prosperous South Africa.” Farisani elaborated: “Unisa’s ethos are informed by various articulations of ubuntu, an African philosophy that emphasises interdependence of humanity, and a humane manner of rendering our services.”

She further remarked that incarceration has disproportionately impacted primarily young black men and individuals with a lack of education. “The consequence of incarceration is that relationships with families and the broader community are strained,” Farisani continued. For her, there must be effective strategies that address barriers preventing formerly incarcerated individuals from effectively reintegrating into their communities.

Additionally, Farisani noted that released inmates are disadvantaged educationally, economically and socially, which further perpetuates inequality. She said: “An approach to reducing recidivism and  enabling community reintegration for these individuals would demonstrate correctional education.” Farisani also called for prerelease programmes to prepare formerly incarcerated individuals to become productive members of society. “Providing them with educational opportunities like we did with our new graduates will help them overcome some of the challenges they face when they reenter their communities,” she affirmed.

The following candidates graduated with LLB degrees cum lade from CLAW:

• Lerato Thato, obtained 18 distinctions
• Orapeleng Mokgoje, obtained ten distinctions
• Teboho Malei, obtained 20 distinctions

The centre also celebrated milestones of other students, ranging from skills development, Further Education and Training qualifications, and higher certificates.

Delivering a congratulatory message, Itumeleng Mokoena, from the Bloemfontein Correctional Centre’s Contracts Division, stated that the centre is testament to what can be achieved when rehabilitation is prioritised. He remarked that the centre continuously demonstrates excellence in various forms, including through innovation, partnerships, and operations. “This illustrates that correctional centres can become places of learning, discipline, and positive change when commitment exists among stakeholders,” affirmed Mokoena.

He further highlighted the importance of transforming correctional facilities into capacity-building institutions instead of institutions of containment. Mokoena maintained: “This accentuates that rehabilitation is not optional, but it is central to justice.” He concluded: “It requires collaboration between the public sector, private sector, educators, faith communities, non-governmental organisations and families to fulfill constitutional mandate.”

* By Ngwako Mokgotho, Communications and Marketing Specialist, College of Law