Ex-convict walks free with bursary
IT WAS a long wait for Oscar Rabothata (32) who finally exchanged his orange uniform for freedom and walked through the prison gates.
POLOKWANE – IT WAS a long wait for Oscar Rabothata (32) who finally exchanged his orange uniform for freedom and walked through the prison gates.
Rabothata was determined to correct his mistakes after he found himself on the wrong side of the law, and he used education as a tool.
He served almost four years at the Polokwane Correctional Centre and was released last Tuesday.
Rabothata, who is from Phalaborwa, was awarded a bursary to do a study information communication technology (ICT) office plus course at Avuxeni Computer Academy.
The ceremony during which his bursary was handed to him was held on the same day as his release. “I was sentenced to eight years and I served half. Now that I am released on parole, I want to go out with a positive attitude and work hard to be a contributing member of society,” Rabothata said.
He said while he was in prison, he realised that he needed an education so that he could get a job and support his family when he was released.
He further said he had been a dedicated student and he spent most of his time studying because he wanted to live a better and different lifestyle.
“I want my mother and two sons to see that I am a changed man and that I will be able to support them. I enrolled for a boilermaker course and completed N3. I am proud to be walking out of prison with an education.”
Rabothata admitted that he had made mistakes, but said it took a strong man to get up and do the right thing. He wanted people to know that any mistake could be corrected and it was never too late to start dreaming.
“I consider myself lucky to have received a bursary to further my education. I thank everyone who helped me to get this far, especially Nkhensani Ntsanwisi, who supported me, believed in me and encouraged me to work hard.”
Ntsanwisi, who is the founder of the Nkhensani Ntsanwisi Foundation, said her foundation offered school campaigns to meet the needs of disadvantaged people and assist them where they could.
“The Polokwane Correctional Service was the first prison school I worked with. That’s where I met Rabothata in 2013. I saw a lot of potential in him because he was a dedicated student who produced good marks,” she said.
She said she was happy with what the foundation has done for him and they would like to assist other inmates to realise their dreams and potential. “I want to thank my team and sponsors for all their hard work because today we have taken the first step in changing someone’s life,” she said.
Ntsanwisi said running an organisation of this kind was not easy because they struggled to find sponsors but added that she was greatful to everyone who had contributed.
Avuxeni Computer Academy area manager Marcus Mbambi said Rabothata’s bursary was worth R7 000 and the duration of the course was six months. “We are happy to be a part of this initiative because we want to empower people so that they can be employable or use their skills to creat jobs for themselves. We want to change lives through education,” he said.
Mbambi also wished Rabothata well for his future.
Correctional services area coordinator of development and care, Shebo Maserumule, said correctional service would assist all inmates who dared to dream. “To be a boy is a matter of birth, to be a man is a matter of choice. Rabothata has made the choice to be a man and he must live by example and teach the young ones that crime does not pay,” he said.
