Grace is gospel singer’s passion
The 28-year-old, also known as Phindile Mashaba the Artist, is employed at Barberton Prison where she gets to interact with offenders serving sentences on a daily basis.
MBOMBELA – Phindile Mashaba from Gutshwa is a gospel singer and believes God called her to serve Him not only through music, but through victims of crime, too.
She is currently recording her third album and recently released her single, Bayede, this month.
She told us more about her career and music:
Does your line of work have an influence on your music?
As a Christian, I believe the job I do is a calling. I enjoy seeing people breaking free from the trauma and hurt they previously experienced.
What does your job entail?
I work closely with Barberton’s Medium A prison through the Foundation for Victims of Crime. I interview offenders and victims where we try to facilitate a dialogue between the two parties through Restorative Justice.
How does Restorative Justice assist the affected people?
Victims are not forced to forgive offenders, because that should come from the heart. Restorative Justice is not only about forgiving one another, but is a healing process for victims.
Have the dialogues yielded any positive results?
Yes. Most victims bottle up their anger and are frustrated with unanswered questions why they were raped or their loved ones were killed. The dialogues are beneficial not only for the victims, but for offenders, who usually fear for their lives and if communities will accept them when the time comes for their release.
How would you want to see the world change through your music and job?
I pray and wish for my music to not only heal, but to also help people to accept Christ as their lord and saviour. At the end of the day, the world must be crime-free. In future I plan to build a shelter for crime victims and to educate people on rape, human trafficking and domestic violence.
