“Just because I am behind bars it does not mean I am less woman than those who are on the outside, I am just a woman who made a bad choice.”
These were the words of Busisiwe Cwala, a female offender at the East London Correctional Centre in West Bank.
Cwala, who was sentenced to 15 years in 2010 for the murder of her children’s father was speaking at a women’s month celebration organised by the department of correctional services to honour and encourage female offenders.
The event was held yesterday, as the month of August known to be women’s month came to an end.
Clad in their blue and white uniforms, the 283 female offenders gathered at the main hall at the centre and listened attentively to advice shared by guest speakers including female professors, business women and church leaders.
Cwala, 35, who spoke about the plight of women in conflict with the law, gave a moving speech about how her actions had hurt her family, especially her children, and the victim’s family. “I was driven by anger and If I could just turn back the hands of time and undo what I did. If I had just walked away and not taken the law into my own hands I would not be where I am today,” she said.
Cwala claims she was a victim of domestic violence but declined to give further details on the circumstances she claims led her to shoot the father of her children.
The department’s regional commissioner, Nkosinathi Breakfast, said even though these women were behind bars, the department acknowledged that they were still part of society.
Breakfast encouraged the female offenders to take up the educational opportunities made available to them.
“You must further your education and grab any opportunity that seeks to make you a better person. When the time has come for you to leave our correctional facilities we want to see a different person in you,” said Breakfast.
He also highlighted efforts that were made to improve the living conditions of the female offenders. “We recently dedicated a cell to women with babies and in 2013 we introduced a project where offender labour services were created for women which was a radical move from our past system were labour was only reserved for male offenders,” he said.
I am just a woman who made a bad choice - female offender
These were the words of Busisiwe Cwala, a female offender at the East London Correctional Centre in West Bank.
Cwala, who was sentenced to 15 years in 2010 for the murder of her children’s father was speaking at a women’s month celebration organised by the department of correctional services to honour and encourage female offenders.
The event was held yesterday, as the month of August known to be women’s month came to an end.
Clad in their blue and white uniforms, the 283 female offenders gathered at the main hall at the centre and listened attentively to advice shared by guest speakers including female professors, business women and church leaders.
Cwala, 35, who spoke about the plight of women in conflict with the law, gave a moving speech about how her actions had hurt her family, especially her children, and the victim’s family. “I was driven by anger and If I could just turn back the hands of time and undo what I did. If I had just walked away and not taken the law into my own hands I would not be where I am today,” she said.
Cwala claims she was a victim of domestic violence but declined to give further details on the circumstances she claims led her to shoot the father of her children.
The department’s regional commissioner, Nkosinathi Breakfast, said even though these women were behind bars, the department acknowledged that they were still part of society.
Breakfast encouraged the female offenders to take up the educational opportunities made available to them.
“You must further your education and grab any opportunity that seeks to make you a better person. When the time has come for you to leave our correctional facilities we want to see a different person in you,” said Breakfast.
He also highlighted efforts that were made to improve the living conditions of the female offenders. “We recently dedicated a cell to women with babies and in 2013 we introduced a project where offender labour services were created for women which was a radical move from our past system were labour was only reserved for male offenders,” he said.
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