The Namibian Correctional Service (NCS) ensures the psychosocial well-being of its inmates irrespective of the crime committed.

NCS Assistant Commissioner Fiina Engelbrecht says the institution's facilities have different programmes in place to assist all inmates.

"We have various rehabilitation programmes starting with education programmes, psychosocial programmes and then vocational training. When it comes to inmates that have committed offences like murder and rape, we ensure that these inmates attend psychosocial programmes which can address their cognitive thinking, and for those that have committed offences due to unemployment, we ensure that they are enrolled in vocational training."

Crime does not segregate; at the age of 66, the oldest inmate found himself sentenced to 35 years for killing his wife of 39 years. He is 82.

Paul Steenkamp, one of the oldest serving inmates at the Hardap Correctional Facility, explains, "In the beginning, adjusting to prison life was extremely difficult. I often felt as though I would rather die than be here surrounded by so many people from different backgrounds and cultures. It was an overwhelming experience, and I struggled to accept my circumstances."

He says support from loved ones, including his children, and the facility keeps him going; he has 19 more years to complete his sentence.

Another long-serving inmate, Kallie Philander, has been at the facility, being incarcerated since 1998 for a life sentence for murder. He turns sixty in August this year. 

"I have seen many people come and go others who committed similar crimes have completed their sentences and have been released. Some served 20 years, others 24 or 25 years. One person served 27 years before being released, but I am still here, waiting. I have been told that my parole case is still under review, and that hope is what keeps me going."

Assistant Commissioner Engelbrecht added that the facility also produces its own food and aims to contribute to food security – alongside inmates, they ensure the government does not spend much money on food. 

"We have harvested 98.1 tonnes of maize; we also produced vegetables and lucerne that we are sending to our farm in Tsumeb for our animals, and we also sell it to the public, and we have our bakery which is meant for inmates."

Governor Riaan McNab, in his State of the Region address, said that an estimated N$3.6 million was generated between August 2025 and March 2026 from the Correctional Facility piggery operation and crop production unit, which covers 16 hectares.

There are 679 inmates at the facility, and only 12 are females, with 45 being non-Namibians.