Could South Africa's Prison Broadcast Network (PBN) currently serving Cape Town grow to become a TV service for the national correctional department in future? That seems to be the hope of Marius Boaden (top left in the photo) founder and CEO of the Prison Broadcast Network in South Africa.
Marius Boaden met yesterday with the Correctional Services National Commissioner Tom Moyane (top second from left) and the minister's spokesperson Sonwabo Mbananga (top second from right) to talk about the possible establishment of a dedicated national TV station for the correctional services department.
''We received a very favourable response,'' says Marius Boaden. ''I believe this will open the doors to extend our partnership with Correctional Services in a big way.'' The envisioned dedicated Correctional Services TV station will initially broadcast to an estimated 8 000 offenders and once the pilot project has proven successful, it will be extend to approximately 66 correctional centres in South Africa. That means an estimated viewership of approximately 100 000 offenders nationally.
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''There is now a process that needs to be followed but at least we are off the starting blocks,'' says Marius Boaden. ''This has been a project on our hearts for the past decade and I am so grateful that we now have a listening ear. We are convinced that this project will totally transform the entire 'prison' culture,'' he says.
Once an official endorsement has been received from the National Commissioner, Prison Broadcasting Network will be looking to the general public to assist with financing this project. "Correctional Services have provided the platform through the installation of TV networks. It is now up to us as society to take this to the next level and to transform these networks into the most powerful rehabilitation tools."
Zama (top right), an ex-offender and one of Prison Broadcasting Network's former students, also attended the meeting.