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Dressed in identical orange uniforms, inmates at South Africa's maximum-security Pollsmoor prison sing and act for the cameras in a new reality series where they vie to be crowned 'Jail Star'.
The Cape Town prison, best known for gang violence in one of the world's most violent countries, has launched a TV talent search for offenders as part of its rehabilitation programme. The show will be broadcast throughout South Africa's prison system on an in-house television channel.
"One of the reasons for the show was to take away the reality that prison was a university of crime. Jail Star gave the prisoners a chance to be themselves and away from their unreal environment," said the founder of Prison Broadcasting Network, Marius Boaden.
"We completed the production. About 35 prisoners were auditioned. The idea comes from reality shows such as Pop Idol. The prisoners could act or recite a poem," he said.
The judges were two warders and a prisoner. The broadcast is part of a rehabilitation and skills development programme.
