Ex-offender imbizo supports victims and parolees

Skeem GP Foundation hosted an imbizo for ex-offenders while celebrating its chairperson Themba Lukhele’s birthday at the City of Mercy Church, located at Moshoeshoe Section, Katlehong, on March 3.

The ex-offender imbizo was not only meant to assist paroles in reintegrating into their communities but to help victims as well.

The aim was to build the capacity of former convicts to navigate post-prison life and address key re-entry challenges.

People from all walks of life attended the event, including the actor Israel Makoe, musical artist Zahara, businessman and author Herman Bezuidenhout and local leaders like Gugu Mofokeng, Tshidi Monkoe and Nani Matsoso.

Speakers included the correctional services national commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale, Minister of Social Development Lindiwe Zulu, head of Organised Crime Shadrack Sibiya, Soweto parliament leader Nhlanhla Lux, acting chief director of the EMPD Angie Makasi, SAPS Johannesburg district commissioner Major General Max Masha.

The spokesperson of Boksburg Correctional Services, Sello Modise, said ex-offenders after their release from correctional services are facing many challenges.

He said it is difficult for them to find jobs because they have a criminal record, while at the same time have to face communities they have wronged and work on gaining their trust.

He further said families contribute to making parolee’s life difficult.

“Remember when a person is released from a correctional facility, they go to a whole different world. At times you find that families do not give them hope. They complain about everything to the point where they monitor their moves. They complain about the food, knowing that the person cannot contribute because they are unemployed,” said Modise.

He urged communities and families to support ex-offenders and give them a fair chance.

He noted that offenders also have the responsibility to prove to communities that they have changed, They can achieve that by participating in community activities and volunteering.

Ex-offenders also had an opportunity to tell their stories.

A former nurse and businesswoman Nokuthula Dumakude from KwaZulu-Natal shared she was arrested after getting involved with ‘tenderpreneurs’ who requested to use her company credentials to apply for a tender.

She did not know those criminals were hacking into the system to defraud the government department.

She said it puzzled her when police officials arrested her. She tried to explain she was working with other people to apply for a tender, however, those people were nowhere to be found.

The court fined her and ordered her to pay back the money. That is when she got deep into crime.

Dumakude was arrested after she was found with bank cards that did not belong to her after a group of guys recruited her to rob people of their bank cards and defraud them.

She said her first offence was not her fault as they scammed her, but the second one was her choice because she was desperate to pay the department’s money back.

“As I was serving my sentence in prison, I kept asking myself what went wrong. I knew that I did not belong there. I went from being a professional nurse and a respected businesswoman to being a prisoner. But in that time I got closer to God. He wanted to use me to change people’s lives.”

Another ex-offender Thapelo Masokoane said he was arrested for armed robbery. He never saw his family for the first seven years while he was in prison.

“I came from a poor family. When I got arrested, I knew my mother could not afford to see me in prison,” said Masokoane.

“I remember calling my mother after I was convicted. She reminded me that she warned me that it would get to this, further noting that when I left they did not have food at home and asked where she was going to get money to visit me in prison,” he shared.

Masokoane started a church while he was still serving his sentence.

He said reintegrating into the community was not easy. A son of one of his friends resorted to crime again because they could not find employment.

Zulu called on the leaders to spread the message of support to neighbours and communities. He said the only way to build the country is to build from the ground up.

“The community members that are here are those who say to Skeem GP, you are our child, irrespective of what you went through. You have come back and want you to share your experience to let other young people realise they decide on their own path,” said Zulu.

She said she came across Lukhele and listened to his story and did not know about his fancy lifestyle.

“I came here today because I believe in what Skeem GP is doing. In the beginning, I thought I would listen to you. Some voices said to me, you are a minister, you cannot afford to be associated and be seen in that kind of environment. And a voice inside me said I went to struggle for change in South Africa. I never selected who I am struggling for and I am not going to select who I serve,” she added.

“I believe in what you stand for when you committed yourself that you want to change the realities of carrying knives and guns and going to school under the influence of drugs and alcohol, which has become a culture in our country. The government alone cannot change the crime statistics.”

She said these statistics show that out of 7 555 people, 3 144 were murdered with a firearm in three months and 2 498 were killed with other weapons such as knives, sharp objects, bricks or bare hands.

From October to December 2022, 4 992 suspects were arrested for gender-based violence and homicide-related crimes. In that period, 5 135 incidents of rape were reported to the police and 52 711 people were arrested for various crimes including murder, sexual offences, assault, carjacking and other serious crimes during the festive session.

“Do we as South Africans want to continue to be known by the world to be number one in all negative statistics? Can we afford that as a nation? My personal view is that we cannot,” said Zulu.

She challenged residents, ex-offenders and pastors to go door to door and visit schools to guide children who have been thinking of taking the wrong direction.

“The only way we can achieve this is to unite as South Africans and tell ourselves that this country is beautiful. It has beautiful people and cultures. It is fighting the demons of racism, GBV and violence.”

The foundation launched a help desk to help parolees and victims during the event. People who need support can contact Skeem GP at 061 760 6103.