BY MFANUFIKILE KHATHWANE
PIGGS PEAK – A wave of hope and modernization swept through Pigg’s Peak Correctional Centre on August 27, 2025 as 41 correctional officers and 40 inmates graduated with certificates in Digital Skills and Entrepreneurship.
The pioneering programme, driven by Pigg’s Peak Innovation Hub (iHub) and the Small Enterprises Development Company (SEDCO), is being hailed as a breakthrough in both prison rehabilitation and public service transformation.
The colourful ceremony, graced by HMCS Commissioner General LaMakhosini Phindile Dlamini, SEDCO CEO Khethiwe Mhlanga, and iHub Director Sebenele Zikalala, brought together officers, inmates, and community partners in celebration of second chances and digital progress. Guests were treated to soul-soothing jazz by correctional officer Celumusa Mkhaliphi, setting a warm tone for the milestone event.
Speaking during the ceremony, Zikalala highlighted that the goal was digital empowerment for all.“For officers, this training means adopting new technologies to manage correctional systems more effectively.
For inmates, it is not just a learning curve, but hope a tool for rehabilitation, dignity, and a bridge to employment or entrepreneurship after release,” he said.
Assistant Commissioner Futhi Mhlanga, Officer-in-Charge at Pigg’s Peak Correctional Centre, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Commissioner General for supporting the programme. She also praised iHub and SEDCO for “opening their doors and sharing expertise,” noting that both officers and inmates now feel better prepared for the future.
SEDCO CEO Khethiwe Mhlanga challenged graduates to turn knowledge into action .“Use these skills to build businesses, create jobs, and shape a brighter future,” she urged.
Encouraged by the success of the initiative, Commissioner General Dlamini pledged to enroll more officers and inmates, while calling for continued collaboration between HMCS, iHub, and SEDCO. She also thanked KFC Pigg’s Peak for providing food hampers and local MP Jabulani ‘Buy Cash’ Mabuza for his generous support.
The programme is part of a broader strategy to modernize correctional services while equipping inmates with marketable skills for successful reintegration into society. With digital literacy and entrepreneurship training, participants are now better positioned to seize opportunities and contribute positively to their communities.
(Courtesy Pic)
