When we are busy doing so, there are who are in prison, hospital etc. The Letaba Herald visited inmates at the Tzaneen Correctional Centre to find out how they spend their festive season, especially Christmas day, a day reserved for family.
Themba Chauke, 43, from Nkowankowa, is an inmate at the Tzaneen Correctional Centre. Having spent some time in prison he knows how it feels to be away from family on Christmas since he’s a father. “I was arrested for assault and I regret every minute of the day. I just want to ask for forgiveness from the people of my community and the ones I offended, said Chauke. Life in prison is not easy but the Department of Correctional Services is trying its best to make life bearable behind bars. Inmates have activities to participate in such as soccer and they have counseling sessions where they are taught how to forgive, how to make the community trust you once you are released from jail, anger management, lifeskills etc.
“Christmas is important because we get fed in here but the painful part is not knowing how your children are spending their special day, if they are well fed etc” said Chauke. “On Christmas day we get special treatments. Our families are allowed to visit and bring us home cooked food, we braai, there’s music. During the festive season even our menu changes” said Chauke. When asked about the worst Christmas day he ever spent in prison Chauke proudly said that prison from 1990 has never been bad because of the government that came into power in 1994. He said that prison was really bad before 1990 because all they did was work and work alone.
He further said that during that time whether it was festive season there was no difference but after 1990 everything changed. “Youth and community members enjoy your time out there, respect your elders, be safe and
make sure you stay away from crime so that you don’t end up in here like us. Life in prison is not easy, you are told what to do, when to do it, what to eat etc so out there you are enjoying yourselves. In prison we work during the week and we are only allowed visitors on weekends and holidays, so don’t be like us because where you are you see your family members everyday. Enjoy responsibly” said Chauke when asked to give a message to the community.
Another inmate, Piet Molokome, 37, from Ga-Matlala is spending his first Christmas at the Tzaneen Correctional Centre. Molokome was arrested and convicted when he was found in possession of dagga and using it at
the same time. Being away from home he feels it won’t make that much difference since he’s surrounded by fellow inmates. “I’m well taken of, what has been promised to me I’m sure will be fulfilled. We have sports facilities, we do exercises and we have good music. There’s no much time to stress so I believe it’ll be a very good time for me spending my first Christmas here. To all people out there respect one another, stay away from things that are not yours. Crime does not pay” said Molokome.
Johannes Senona, 40, from Lebowakgomo was convicted for fraud. He has spent some years in prison and he is sure that this Christmas will be as good as other festive holidays. “Look after yourselves, stop going
up and down. I would like to encourage parents o ensure their children’s whereabouts at all times, ensure that your children are involved in sport tournaments. I would like to encourage and thank people like Kaizer Letsoalo,
Triggy Mogoboya and Tony Kutumela for the initiatives they are doing to keep children off the streets by encouraging them to engage in sports. What they are doing is very good and they should know that some of us when we get released, we will be joining their initiatives to change lives” said Senona.
Kenneth Mthombeni, Area Commissioner of Polokwane Management area was delighted that we have come to see how inmates spend their holidays and encouraged such doings. “Your visit here gives testimony to the fact that things have changed and correctional centers are places of new beginnings and are open to community involvement. We as a department are very happy and through the media we have a link between the community and the inmates. We call on communities to have confidence in us as a department that when these inmates get released are integrated with them. We would like to wish all inmates a merry Christmas and a prosperous 2015” said Mthombeni.
