Swazi Observer

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INMATES TO GET VISITATIONS ON XMAS, NEW YEAR’S DAY

By Bodwa Mbingo | 2024-12-21

In the true spirit of Christmas, His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS) will allow relatives and friends to visit their loved ones at all the country’s correctional centres even on Christmas and New Year’s Day.

This is after Commissioner General LaMakhosini Phindile Dlamini announced a new arrangement, which will allow offenders to be visited in all correctional centres during the festive season.

Visitations have always been confided to weekends at the various correctional centres including the Malkerns Young Persons Centre, Matsapha Correctional Centre, Mbabane Correctional Centre (Sidwashini) and the Pigg's Peak Correctional Centre. Other centres also include the Bhalekane Correctional Centre, Big Bend Correctional Centre, Nhlangano Correctional Centre and Mankayane Correctional Centre.

With effect from yesterday until January 2, 2025, the commissioner general revealed that relatives for both convicted and non-convicted inmates will be allowed to visit their loved ones every day from 9am to 3pm.

Observers already see this move by the department as a positive move in observing human rights, praising the commissioner general for great vision in setting inmates well on their rehabilitation journey.

In a statement issued by the department, it was stated that the commissioner general fully comprehends that some close family members do not often get the opportunity to visit their relatives due to various commitments and the festive season provides a unique platform as most families are together and within proximity.

Population
“Due to the high population in some correctional centres, relatives who wish to pay a visit are hereby advised to discuss at family level on who will visit their incarcerated member in order to avoid an influx of visitors checking on one person a day.

‘‘This is in the spirit of allowing almost every offender to benefit from the new arrangement as there is limited time and space allocated for visitations,” read the statement in part.

During this period and beyond, members of the public were requested by the department to cooperate with correctional officers and the administration by being flexible and adhering to the conditions of visits.

“All visitors are expected to bring their national identity cards. Visitors are reminded that any form of food is not allowed and those who wish to buy certain items will do so at the tuck-shops available in the various centres,” concluded the statement.

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