Prisoners unchain their creative talents

South Africa's got talent - behind bars.

The Department of Correctional Services this week opened the first gallery for prisoner art in the country, the Gallery of Arts and Hope, in Cape Town, and plans to open similar spaces in other cities and towns.

Inmates from the 283 correctional facilities in the country were invited to submit artwork for the opening of the gallery. Officials whittled these down to 54 submissions, which will go on sale to the public. The funds will be used to expand the project.

Andile Nelani, the department's co-ordinator for education and training in the Western Cape, started the project.

"I am a teacher by profession and art was one of the subjects I studied. The idea is to use art to help rehabilitation of offenders. We can also help them earn an honest living when released," said Nelani.

The department also plans to partner with established galleries and educational institutions to exhibit inmates' work.

Spokesman for the department Simphiwe Xako said the long-term objective of the project was to curb repeat offences and to "empower offenders with the tools to help them give back to society".

The Gallery of Arts and Hope is a storage facility owned by the South African National Defence Force near Goodwood Prison.

Offenders, dressed in orange overalls, drenched the dreary building in brilliant colour and painted murals of the Big Five.

"When they worked on the building, motorists passing by on the N1 hooted, and two old ladies even stopped to watch," said Nelani.

The department also launched Unchained, a collection of prisoners' poetry.

Correctional Services Minister Sibusiso Ndebele said: "It is these rehabilitation programmes that seek to reduce the level of gangsterism, smuggling and drug abuse in our centres."