Once a convict not always a criminal

February 22, 2012

After realizing the challenges faced by ex-convicts in the communities restored into; the department of correctional services Mpumalanga organized the special visits to the Pensele primary school in Mashonamini outside Hazyview, with the aim to educate pupils about the role of the parolees in the community.
The parolees pointed at some of the problems which they encounter when serving their community service sentences.
Ex-convict Wilson Mnisi told the pupils and parents that crime is not good as it limits ones chances of getting a decent job and people always feel unsafe in the presence of a convicted criminal.
“People commit crimes and the community always suspects us because we were convicted for crime; now I have changed and people should appreciate us. We don’t do crime anymore and this is an apology to the people we wronged.” said Wilson.
Bushbuckridge Senior Correctional Officer Chris Nonyane says that many people are still failing to understand that any person can be found on the wrong side of the law and get arrested but that does not mean that they should be mistreated.
“Correctional services will have programmes to visit various schools, churches and community meetings to educate people about our role as a department” said Senior Correctional Officer Nonyane.
Calcutta Police spokesperson Constable Priscilla Mthombeni said police have learned that the parolees are not well treated by community members who call them names.
“We are happy because the campaign has united us with the people we have arrested before and now we are sharing jokes together.”
Traditional leader Elfas Mabuza also said the community must learn to forgive and accept the convicts back into society.