‘I am sorry’ – offenders speak out

On Thursday Groenpunt Correctional Centre held a prison dialogue with the Refengkgotso community. The emotional event saw the shedding of tears of grief and anger over those who were directly or indirectly victimised by convicts.

The event was part of a rehabiliation programme by Correctional Services. This is where an offender gets to deal with the prison programmes and finds a way out of prison as a different person. The most visible sign of rehabilitation is acceptance.

“An offender needs to accept his/her wrongdoing to deal with the daily life of prison. This way we are dealing with a person who wants to change when he leaves prison,” said Area Correction Commander Kau during the event, which illustrated the day-to-day life of work of offenders and correctional warders.

One vibrant speaker/offender from the maximum centre Percy Chipepe, who has served 19 of a 63-year sentence for crimes that can not be cited, uttered the words, “I am sorry” to the community from the stage,“I have seen the pain and loss that I caused the nation and the community.

“I have seen the grief and anger those who loved me had to endure because of me. Above all, I saw the hand of God and His grace has turned me into a different person. I have seen my wrongdoing and I am sorry,” said Chipepe.

Three other offenders from the medium and juvenile centres ascended to the podiumto give their brief testimony of their crimes. They shocked the house because, as young as they were, they had committed murder and rape, and were serving long sentences.

“I was very stupid and disgraced my family.

I was raised by very good parents who gave me everything toward success in life, including education but I allowed myself to choose the path that put me behind bars. I wish my Dad was alive so I could say sorry,” said an offender.