It is not easy to get a job with a criminal record and although correctional facilities offer career choices to prisoners – it remains tough to fit in society.
In a sad story involving Neo Tshatsinde, a 39-year-old woman, we learn of the harsh realities ex-convicts endure after having served time behind bars.
She has been struggling to get a job following her release from the Johannesburg prison in 2004. Tshatsinde described her situation as being ‘harsh’ and that the criminal record now hinders the chances of her getting a decent job.
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“I was sentenced to 15-years in prison in 1999 for armed robbery but ended up serving a maximum of six-years imprisonment.
“Life in prison was irksome. Jail life derails you and also threatens career possibilities for most convicts, while others are left without getting proper rehabilitation in prison,” said Tshatsinde.
She said, “A prison warden tasked with the responsibility to assist prisoners to make correct career choices in prison, always reserves esteemed careers for prisoners coming from rich families.
Tshatsinde said prisoners from poor background are always enrolled for ‘meritless’ programmes that make them incompetent in the job market. She said careers of high standing are being sold for cash inside prison walls.
“I’m one of such ex-convicts who was enrolled in these worthless prison programmes. For the duration of my six-year sentence, I did valueless programmes including Child in Trafficking, Building of Self-Esteem, Life Skills and other programmes.
“What am I going to do or achieve with these certificates? I was never asked or advised what career I wanted to pursue, all programmes I did were chosen for me.
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“My fellow inmates coming from a rich background would bribe the prison warden and would be offered top-notch career programmes. They are now competent and productive citizens,” said Tshatsinde.
She said if only she had the pleasure to choose her own career, she would have by now completed a law degree in prison.
Tshatsinde, “None of those certificates ever helped me land a good job since I regained my freedom. The correctional service should allow prisoners to pick their own careers or to study what they want.
“Leaving prison with a qualification of your choice would give you a decent chance to earn a living. The last thing I want is to see an ex-convict heading back to jail for committing a crime,” said Tshatsinde.
She calls on government to allow prisoners to have a say in choosing careers.
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