Prisoners warn learners about bad behaviour

Learners from various schools in Daveyton and Tembisa visited Modderbee Correctional Services on August 21 for a prison tour.

The learners were accompanied by members of the Gauteng Legislature and councillors.

The aim of the visit was to enlighten learners about the difficulties of life in prison.

During the visit, inmates roleplayed scenes of how prison fights start.

Learners were encouraged to stay in school and do things right because bad behaviour does not pay off.

“You really don’t want to end up here. If I was given another opportunity I would go to school and finish my studies. Prison is not a good place to be. You still have a chance so please use it wisely. Crime and bad behaviour do not pay,” said inmate Thabang Mnguni.

By the end of the tour, the learners promised to behave going forward.

A learner from Etwatwa High School said he was thrilled to see his father in prison for the first time after 10 years.

“He told me if I continued with my bad behaviour I will end up like him and that immediately was a wake-up call.”

He elaborated on how he wants to change his life going forward and focus on school.

According to the chairperson of committees of the Gauteng Legislature, Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane, the learners were showing signs of delinquency in their respective schools, including stealing, drugs, bunking classes, being disrespectful to teachers and parents as well as bullying other learners.

“We brought them here with hopes of changing their perspective on life,” she said.

“We do not want children to end up here, so we bring them to show them what their behaviour will lead to. They are our future leaders and we will do everything to ensure that they are on the right path,” said Nkosi-Malobane.

She told learners that they have access to social workers in schools if they want to talk.

During the tour, former Modderbee Correctional Services inmates shared their stories with the learners.

Inmate Musa Myeni, who was part of a gang before he got arrested, said he was in prison for almost a decade and it’s all because he thought he was smarter than everyone.

“Listen to your teachers and parents because they are looking out for you. Flee from things or people that are not beneficial to you,” said Myeni.

Zandile Ntuli, a parolee who is serving her sentence outside prison, said it was not nice being in prison.

“When I went to prison I had qualifications but now I can’t get a job because I have a criminal record.

“Criminals barely get hired, so imagine having children to feed but you can’t due to the bad decisions you made while you were still young,” said Ntuli.

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