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Inmates face off in reading competition

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Inmates in the Northern Cape and Free State region will face off in the annual regional Funda Mzantsi Championships.

INMATES in the Northern Cape and Free State region will face off in the annual regional Funda Mzantsi Championships.

The provincial spokesperson of the Department of Correctional Services in the Northern Cape, Simphiwo Nomvethe, said the reading championships will take place over a three-day period from August 16 until August 18.

He added that the winners of the regional championships will progress to the national championships where they compete against contenders from across the country.

“These reading competitions are embarked upon throughout the whole country with inmates and school, college and university students, as well as social book clubs, competing against each other,” said Nomvethe.

“In the department, the competition starts at Correctional Centre level, where those inmates with special interest in the competition are identified. They are carefully prepared by the department officials in preparation for Management Area competitions. Those who emerge triumphant then continue to the regional showpiece where they square up against those coming from other management areas within the region.

“The winners selected at regional level, who went through the eye of the needle in terms of the rigorous process under which they go and were carefully selected, will then head to the national championships to compete for the top honours.”

Nomvethe said the competition is not only aimed at sparking a culture of reading among inmates, but the competition also forms part of the department’s many rehabilitation programmes.

He said the regional reading competitions will be graced by various stakeholders in the competition.

“The official opening of this regional competition will be officiated by the Regional Commissioner for Free State and Northern Cape, Subashini Moodley, who will also deliver the keynote address during the official opening ceremony. Other key stakeholders include the Head of Department for Education and the Head of Department for Sport, Arts and Culture in the Province, as well as representatives for an organisation called Literacy for Life.”

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