The University’s Dr Karen Booyens (Lecturer in Criminology) has been involved since 2003 with the children and juveniles. She was invited as a guest and handed over gifts sponsored by the University of Pretoria to the children. Director Koos Gerber expressed his gratitude to the University for its continuous involvement with the detainees.

The celebrations were opened by Director Gerber, head of the correctional centre and the key note address was delivered by Mr Yersen Pillay from the National Youth Development Agency.

The correctional centre serves as a remand detention centre for children and juveniles accused of serious crimes. At the time of compiling the article, there were 1 125 youth (18 – 25 years) and 25 children (14 – 17 years) awaiting trial. These numbers however change daily with the arrival of new detainees or the release of detainees.