Johannesburg, South Africa — President Cyril Ramaphosa Celebrates Mandela Legacy with Launch of Nelson Mandela Rules Academy. Johannesburg, South Africa — President Cyril Ramaphosa commemorated the 36th anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s release from prison by unveiling the Nelson Mandela Rules Training Academy at the Drakenstein Correctional Facility. This academy, the first of its kind in Africa, is dedicated to promoting the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, also known as the Nelson Mandela Rules.
The academy aims to foster dignity, fairness, and humane treatment for prisoners, reflecting Mandela’s lifelong advocacy for justice and fairness. Jane Marie Ong’olo, the Regional Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, emphasized Mandela’s enduring impact on global standards. “Nelson Mandela himself spent more than 27 years in prison and throughout his life he remained such a powerful advocate for fairness, justice, and humane treatment of all people,” Ong’olo stated.
Ramaphosa described the academy as a significant knowledge hub for South Africa and the Southern African region, as well as for the global correctional community. He highlighted that it is the first facility of its kind on the African continent.
The academy will focus on educational, skills development, and rehabilitation programs designed to prepare inmates for successful reintegration into society.
The programs are also intended to support inmates serving long sentences in personal growth and self — improvement, aligning with Mandela’s values.
The initiative is part of South Africa’s broader efforts to improve prison conditions and support prisoner rehabilitation. Further details about the academy’s operations and the expected outcomes are expected to be released in the coming weeks.
The launch of the Nelson Mandela Rules Academy marks a significant step in continuing Mandela’s legacy and advancing the rights of prisoners worldwide.
