Learners get a taste of prison life
The learners were brought to Boksburg Correctional Services to be advised by inmates who were arrested young.
The Gauteng Department of Community Safety recently took learners from various schools in Ekurhuleni to Boksburg Correctional Services for a tour of the facility.
The department collaborated with the Department of Correctional Services, Reiger Park SAPS and Gauteng Traffic Police to facilitate the trip.
According to the Director of Ekurhuleni Community Safety department, Jeff Xaba, they brought learners to the correctional services, so that they can experience prison life, as part of the Social Crime Prevention Programme facilitated by the Gauteng Department of Community Safety.
“These school learners are our future leaders. As the department of community safety, we are working with various law enforcement agencies to make sure South Africa is safe.
“During this youth month, we plan to tackle all the issues that are affecting our young people, especially bullying, gangsterism, and drug and alcohol abuse that lead them to prison.
“We took the learners to the juvenile inmate cells early that morning. The aim of the trip was for learners to understand what it is like to be an inmate.
“We want them to feel, smell and taste prison life, and more especially to hear stories about the inmates and how they ended up in prison.”
Inmate Moshe Xoli said he is serving a sentence of 15 years for murder, something he deeply regrets doing.
“I have sinned because I took a life. I joined a bad group of friends and that’s why I ended up in prison. I strongly believe, however, that every person is in charge of their destiny. I made the wrong choice and am paying for it. I advise the youth to take control of their lives.
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“They mustn’t make the same mistake I made. Their mothers didn’t carry them for nine months for them to be criminals or murderers.
“They are not sent to school to be criminals, homeless or even murderers. Everyone reaps what they sow. What you do today determines your future.”
Acting Gauteng Correctional Services Regional Commissioner Luckyboy Mathiba said the learners must listen to what the juvenile inmates are saying to them.
“Your road to prison starts with small things, like stealing sugar and milk at home. From there, you start stealing bigger things from other people’s homes. You are likely to end up in prison. If you are a learner that steals or does wrong things, stop now. If you want to live a good life and stay out of prison, learn to be disciplined,” said Mathiba.
A learner from Oosrand High School, Alonzo Nobels, said he has learned that prison life is not nice.
“What my uncle used to tell me about prison life is true. It is hard to live in prison. My uncle said you have to buy a place to sleep in prison, and from my own experience today I believe it is true. I have learned a lot and will tell my peers to stop using drugs and fighting,” he said.
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