28/05/2026
BEYOND THE WALLS FOURTH COHORT CELEBRATED AT SANU AS LEADERS CHAMPION DIGITAL INCLUSION AND REHABILITATION THROUGH EDUCATION
By Pro Sandile Zwide Nxumalo
MANZINI — The SANU Learning Centre under the Faculty of Education hosted the Beyond the Walls Fourth Cohort Certificate Handover Ceremony on Thursday, bringing together government officials, SANU leadership, His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS), development partners, church leaders, students, and education stakeholders in a unified effort to advance digital inclusion, rehabilitation, and skills development through education.
The ceremony commenced at 0900hrs under the direction of SANU Registrar Mr S.S. Mhlanga, opening with a prayer by Rev. Harlan. The programme featured musical performances by students from Mawelawela Correctional Centre, followed by speeches from key stakeholders, a keynote address by the Minister of Education and Training, a musical item by a SANU soloist, and the official certificate handover to graduates of the Fourth Cohort.
A total of eight (8) students graduated, successfully completing the basic digital skills training programme aimed at equipping incarcerated women from Mawelawela Correctional Centre with essential computer literacy skills to support rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
Founded and facilitated by Mr Sabelo Mlangeni, Beyond the Walls is a digital literacy and empowerment initiative established in March 2019, aimed at equipping incarcerated women from Mawelawela Correctional Centre with basic computer skills to support rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
Delivering remarks, Mr Mlangeni described the programme as a mission to “reach the unreachable” through education and digital inclusion. He noted that the initiative continues to respond to the persistent digital divide in Eswatini, supported by findings from the 2024 Digital Readiness Assessment Report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of ICT, which highlights significant gaps in digital literacy across the country.
He expressed appreciation to SANU, His Majesty’s Correctional Services, the United States Embassy Eswatini, and other partners for their continued support, stating that the programme has grown into a platform of transformation, hope, and empowerment.
A student representative shared testimony on the impact of the programme, highlighting that it restored dignity, confidence, and provided essential digital skills that will assist in reintegration into society.
Representing the Commissioner General of His Majesty’s Correctional Services, Deputy Commissioner General Bongani Khumalo commended the programme for its contribution to rehabilitation and skills development within correctional facilities. He acknowledged the decision taken in 2019 to introduce the initiative within a secure correctional environment, describing it as a bold and transformative step.
He reflected on the challenges experienced during the COVID-19 period, noting the resilience of the programme in maintaining continuity despite disruptions. He also highlighted the strong partnership between HMCS and SANU, including the progression of learners from Vulamasango Correctional Centre through SANU programmes.
He stated that the initiative aligns with His Majesty the King’s call for visible rehabilitation outcomes, where inmates are empowered to reintegrate into society as productive citizens, and confirmed a pending invitation for the Minister of Education and Training to visit Vulamasango Correctional Centre.
Delivering her remarks, SANU Vice Chancellor Dr Faith Mngomezulu emphasised the importance of integrating skills development alongside mainstream academic programmes to enhance relevance, employability, and national human capital development.
She stated that SANU values its partnership with Beyond the Walls as it reflects the institution’s commitment to inclusivity, transformation, and academic excellence. Dr Mngomezulu highlighted SANU’s Continuing Education Department, which provides micro-credentials aimed at promoting self-empowerment, economic growth, and lifelong learning.
She noted that digital capacitation plays a critical role in bridging the digital divide and encouraged graduates to pursue further learning in the digital space. She further emphasised that SANU’s engagement in correctional education reflects its commitment to Christ-like service and transformative education.
Dr Mngomezulu encouraged graduates to embrace lifelong learning in a rapidly evolving world shaped by Artificial Intelligence and the Fifth Industrial Revolution, stating that adaptability is key to remaining relevant. She concluded by reminding graduates that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10).
Delivering the keynote address, the Minister of Education and Training, Hon. Owen Nxumalo, described the Beyond the Walls programme as a reflection of Eswatini’s evolving education system, where learning increasingly transcends traditional boundaries.
He emphasised the importance of inclusive education in ensuring that no one is left behind in the digital era, commended the collaboration between SANU, Beyond the Walls, and the United States Embassy Eswatini, and urged continued collective responsibility in sustaining such initiatives amid declining donor funding.
He encouraged stakeholders to invest in digital inclusion and rehabilitation through education, stating that such programmes are essential for national development, and concluded by affirming that the ceremony marked a continuation of transformation in education and rehabilitation outcomes.
The event also featured a musical performance by a SANU soloist before certificates were officially awarded to the eight graduates of the Beyond the Walls Fourth Cohort, marking the successful completion of their digital skills training programme.
PRO MEDIA NEWS — INFORMING. INSPIRING. EMPOWERING.
![Lamentations 3:25 NIV[25] The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;](https://img4.ngos1.com/787/047/852768307870477.jpg)
