Former convict and now actor, Bongani Maseko was such a notorious car hijacker that his mother called the police when he brought home his first legitimate car soon after his release.
She wanted the car’s papers verified by the police to ensure that it was not stolen or hijacked.
“This was despite my numerous discussions with her in an effort to convince her that I was a reformed thug who had put my past behind me,” said Maseko.
“Her actions can be forgiven. I was such a notorious hijacker that nothing I said could convince her that I had mended my ways and that I had actually bought the car and it was not from the proceeds of my criminal past.
You may also be interested in: Ex-con puts past behind him
“The police came and checked the papers and confirmed for her that it had actually been purchased.
“Even when I broke into people’s houses and brought home amadulas [township lingo for expensive gadgets], she would have none of that. ‘I don’t want anything in my house that has people’s tears dripping down’, she would say.”
Maseko added that when his gang leader used to come knocking on their door, his mother would push him out of the house as she did not want to have any contact with criminals. He said his mother did this not because she wanted him ukuyozama [to go and steal] but because she despised his crime boss.
‘Shotgun’ as Maseko was known by his crime gang, says he is a reformed criminal and to make amends has done community work, washed the feet of old people in old age homes, cleaned their beds and also washed their linen and clothes.
“The thing I fear most is going back to various victims of my crime spree and offering my apologies. I have committed many crimes and harmed many people in the process, such that apologising would reopen the wounds and leave me vulnerable to arrest.
“I have not been charged and convicted for many other crimes I committed, and offering apologies would open a can of worms for me. I would prefer to let sleeping dogs lie and pay back to the community and the people I harmed,” Maseko said.
Would you forgive the person who harmed your loved ones even if he or she was not charged and convicted for the crime?
Tell us by posting on our timeline, Alex News or tweet us @AlexNewsZA
Add Alex News on BBM for the latest hard hitting news in your community. PIN: 29CA3017
