NICRO Annual Report 2000 - 2001

National Institution for Crime Prevention and Reintegration of Offenders

NICRO is unique. It is the only national non-governmental organisation providing crime prevention services in South Africa. We are more committed than ever before to achieving our vision of a safer country where the fear of crime no longer governs. We believe that, together with the people of South Africa, we can realise our dream of a nation united in mutual respect, dignity and compassion.

Milestones

NICRO's commitment to a safer future

• Promoting restorative justice (restoring the balance affected by crime rather than practicing retributive justice) and people-centred development
• Preventing and reducing crime through ongoing, accessible and effective service delivery
• Contributing meaningfully towards streamlining the criminal justice system (a key focus), policymaking and legislation in South Africa
• Networking, developing and strengthening partnerships and increasing organisational capacity through collaborative efforts with business and government, as well as ensuring the active involvement of members of the community, community groups and civil society
• Serving as a wise voice of civil society
• Strengthening community capacity
• Focussing on under-resourced areas and providing needs-directed services where they are required most
• Adopting a best practice, well rounded approach in all that we do

NICRO Leadership

President: Minister Kader Asmal, Minister of Education
Executive Chair: Advocate Pat Gamble
Executive Director: Ms Soraya Solomon
National Directorate: Executive director, there national directors, nine provincial directors and four national co-ordinators

NICRO Projects 2000 - 2001

NICRO has been called upon to take wise and mature action to prevent and reduce crime, ensuring that people are able to live safely and freely in their homes and communities. Something is being done, and it works. This past year we have achieved a great deal in urban, peri-urban and rural areas where the four NICRO projects are offered.

Diversion

Diversion entails the channelling of high-risk young people and youth offenders away from the criminal justice system into programmes that make them accountable for their actions and responsible for attempting to make amends.

• Annual target of 10 000 again surpassed: 13 785 beneficiaries served and 9 820 youths reached through interactive workshops
• Staff development and training: workers from five provinces trained to facilitate the outdoor/wilderness therapy component of The Journey programme; six staff members undertook a study tour in February 2001 to exchange ideas, experience and knowledge with youth workers in the Netherlands; approximately 35 Diversion workers attended a two-day training programme - "Dealing with Angry Children"
• New pilot programme launched in the Western Cape following a partnership formed with Partners for Children, Big Brother Big Sister South Africa to recruit mentors to support and guide youth having completed Diversion programmes
• A national workshop held with programme managers to position services in line with the guidelines set out for the Child Justice Bill: future activities will focus on networking and capacity building, training of staff and volunteers as well as ongoing monitoring and evaluation to improve services and impact
• Future plans: the launch a major crime prevention initiative aimed at young people in schools

Community Victim Support

Many people are affected by crime in South Africa: some are victims, others are witnesses. Many more family members are affected. This programme provides comprehensive support services to all witnesses and victims of crime, violence and abuse as well as those at risk of victimisation; facilitates the recovery process; reduces the fear of recurring crime and enables survivors to regain control of their lives.

• 22 004 individuals served (86.6% increase on last year) and 20 715 reached through workshops
• A more community development-based, strategic focus now provides more integrated and holistic services: staff work in no more than two communities for 3 to 5 years; high risk, crime stricken, rural and under-resourced communities prioritised
• Increased activities in marginalised rural communities have resulted in the development of a strategy for rural development
• Direct service delivery now includes a 'wilderness therapy' programme for abused women in addition to other alternative healing practices
• HIV/AIDS counselling, basic education and related activities have been incorporated into programmes
• Programmes aimed at perpetrators launched in the Eastern Cape and Gauteng with positive outcomes, arising from the need to address domestic violence in a holistic way and take proactive and preventive action. National training is planned for June 2001. Programmes in other provinces to be rolled out in April 2002.
• Community volunteers run most of the support services.

Offender Reintegration

One of the greatest challenges people who have broken the law face is becoming responsible and productive citizens. This programme was designed and implemented to support former offenders and their families. A wide range of services strengthens the capacity of former offenders to make amends and assists them every step of the way to successful reintegration. There are also special services for those serving a prison term. This work contributes significantly to a reduction in crime.

• 5 798 individuals beneficiaries and 10 675 reached through workshops
• The intensive 9 to 12 month Tough Enough intervention programme was implemented in 30 prisons, in eight provinces, with the exception of the Northern Province, reaching 762 participants. Beginning in prison a few months prior to release, it continues during the crucial months while ex-offenders are reintegrated into society, thus providing support on both sides of the prison wall. Encouraging results are already in evidence.
• 114 prisoners and 103 children of prisoners were awarded study bursaries
• The Creative Arts Projects attracted many entries, of which 150 were displayed at the prize-giving event held in October 2000
• The Working for Water Project: NICRO, in collaboration with the Departments of Water and Forestry and Social Development, successfully provided temporary employment for 491 ex-offenders participating in skills development programmes

Economic Opportunities Project (EOP)

EOP trains and develops former offenders, victims of crime, diversion clients and other marginalised, vulnerable individuals, equipping them with the necessary entrepreneurial skills and tools to start their own businesses. By encouraging and supporting micro enterprise initiatives in the informal sector NICRO promotes self-sufficiency and economic independence.

• 6 744 individuals served and 6 533 reached through workshops
• 21 Service Points in the nine provinces offer business skills training - Start and Improve Your Business courses, follow-up and support, business linkage opportunities and financial support services
• 60 - 65% of participants successfully start their own micro enterprises or significantly improved their businesses within four months of receiving training
• More than 70% of project beneficiaries have succeeded in securing a regular income, most have achieved an increase in personal income
• More than 2 700 jobs have already been created
• Approximately 60% of our clients are women
• NICRO Enterprise Finance (NEF), formed in 1997 as a Section 21 company, provided micro loans to clients who completed training programmes in 2000 - 2001, to start their own businesses

NICRO Community Safety Awards

The NICRO Whistle Awards for Community Safety

• Offender Reintegration: Khulisa Programme, Johannesburg, run by 18 former offenders. They present stories about their criminal background, highlighting the choices they made in order to turn their backs on crime
• Small Business Development: Nyameka Catherine Kwanini - Impressions Florist, Eastern Cape. Nyameka started floral arrangements at the age of 15 for church and weddings. Nyameka says: "My aim in business is to alleviate poverty by creating jobs and teaching people skills so that they can be self-sufficient." She now employs two full-time and eight part-time employees.
• Victim Empowerment: Kabega Park Community Care Centre, Port Elizabeth. At the Kabega Park Community Centre volunteers accompany police to crime scenes to offer immediate support. They also accompany victims to court and visit victims at home. The Centre is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week
• Youth Development: Sergeant Glory Majaki, Northern Cape & Ons Plek Projects, shelters for female street children, Cape Town. Amongst Sergeant Glory Majaki's many and varied innovative projects are the "Pocket Book System" and the "Protect the Youth" Project. Students police themselves: they keep a pocket book to monitor disturbances in their schools and report back. Ons Plek Projects run a 24-hour early intervention programme. Where possible they reunite the girls with their families, and support this with family preservation programmes. Ons Plek is run by a small core of extremely dedicated staff and volunteers who are often in personal danger.

Creative Arts Awards for Prison Art

The Creative Arts Awards for Prison Art, now in its 5th year, is run in close association with the Department of Correctional Service. This annual competition for art by prisoners in South Africa is open to all prisoners. It is an opportunity to display individual creative and artistic talent and prize-winning entries are exhibited at the annual NICRO gala event.

• Winners: Richard Booi, Brandvlei Medium A (recycling); Christopher Malgas, Pollsmoor (Needlework); Henry Marais, Malmesbury (fabric painting); R. Erusmus, Kimberley (matchstick construction); J. Malinga, Upington (woodcraft); R. Mosenthal, Kuruman (painting); Xolelani Makeleni, Middeldrift (leatherwork); S. Fumbani, Middeldrift (poetry and prose)

NICRO-JUTA Write for a Safer South Africa Competition

The Juta/NICRO Write for a safer South Africa competition gives all young people an opportunity to suggest solutions to the leaders and people of this country on how to make South Africa safe and crime-free for all its citizens.

• Thabisa Gweba, 11 years old, was the Western Cape Provincial Winner and National First Prize Winner for the year 2000.
  

NICRO Finances

• Funds: approximately 50% from South Africa (Trusts, Foundations, Corporates and Individuals), 30% government subsidy, 14% international funding and 6% investments/other.
• Audited financial statements available from NICRO National Office and provincial offices.