296 Namibian Correctional Officers Complete Training

A total of 296 trainees have graduated from the 10th Basic Orientation Training Course, Intake 1/2026, at the National Youth Service's Rietfontein Training Centre in the Otjozondjupa region. The intake comprised 190 males and 106 females from different regions, cultures, and professional backgrounds. They were trained for three months to prepare them for duties within the Namibian Correctional Service. The training aimed to equip them with skills in time management, self-control, and emotional intelligence.

The trainees came from various professional backgrounds, including healthcare, law, psychology, agriculture, social work, theology, education, and artisan trades. NCS Commissioner-General Raphael Hamunyela said the institution recruited people with different qualifications to strengthen its pool of specialised skills. The graduates included professionals such as pastors, cattle herders, doctors, lawyers, artisans, chess players, boxers, and nurses. Hamunyela expressed pride in the graduates, who had transformed from professionals in their fields to security-conscious professionals of the NCS.

The training was conducted in accordance with the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, also known as the Nelson Mandela Rules. Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Roux-Che Mulike said the trainees had learned to work together despite their different backgrounds and professional experiences. They arrived at the centre on 1 August 2026 with different abilities and experiences but were united by the purpose of serving the country.

Mulike said the three-month programme tested their physical endurance, mental resilience, and determination. The trainees also learned to live together despite their different cultures and ethnic backgrounds while developing leadership skills through the training. She noted that from strangers, they became a team. The training began with 310 trainees, of whom 296 completed the programme.

Home affairs, immigration, safety and security minister Lucia Iipumbu said the graduates would be deployed across the country. She said their recruitment and training were part of the government's efforts to strengthen public institutions and address unemployment. Iipumbu noted that today's graduates are not merely entering employment but joining a profession entrusted with maintaining security, promoting justice, facilitating offender rehabilitation, and supporting successful reintegration into society.

All graduating trainees passed, with the highest-performing trainee scoring 95% and the lowest scoring 53%. The Namibian Correctional Service aims to strengthen its pool of specialised skills by recruiting people from various professional backgrounds. The service requires professionals with diverse skills to effectively carry out its duties.

The graduation ceremony marked a significant milestone in the development of the Namibian Correctional Service. The 296 graduates will play a crucial role in maintaining security, promoting justice, and facilitating offender rehabilitation. Their deployment across the country will contribute to the government's efforts to strengthen public institutions and address unemployment.

Key points

• The trainees were from various professional backgrounds, including healthcare, law, and psychology.
• The training was conducted in accordance with the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners.
• All graduating trainees passed, with scores ranging from 53% to 95%.