A reformed ex-prisoner brought hope to inmates at the East London Maximum Prison by donating 50 books to the facility, some of which were written by him.
Mzukisi Silandela, who is managing director of At 40 Publishers, a Komani-based publishing house, served seven years imprisonment after pleading guilty to killing his girlfriend in 1999.
He was released on parole in December 2005.
It was while he was in prison that he discovered a love of reading and literature, which continues to this day.
Silandela, who has authored five books since his release, donated 50 books to the value of R8660 to the East London facility.
When addressing other inmates Silandela said: “I committed a crime and I got caught. What I learnt in here is what I applied outside when I left prison, that is why I’m a changed man today.
“It is important to make and learn from one’s mistakes,” adding that prisoners should make use of the skills they are taught in the correctional facility.
Lunathi Nyamela, 29, who is sentenced to life imprisonment, said: “Seeing one of our own coming here and encouraging us to be better people means a lot to me. It shows that rehabilitation truly works.
“My dreams of becoming a teacher may never come true but being here is a learning curve for me.”
Nyamela is also the chief librarian at the facility.
Bongo Molelekwa, 32, who was sentenced to 25 years for housebreaking and being in possession of a firearm and live ammunition, said he was an academic who made wrong decisions.
“Since I came here I started tutoring maths and accounting because I have always been good with calculations. I regret all I have done.
“Now I understand what they mean when they say crime does not pay.
“I keep myself busy so as not to think about everything that is happening outside. If I were to be released I would make it a point to educate the youth about prison life,” Molelekwa said.
Wesley Herman, 33, said: “I am confined because of the lifestyle I lived when I was in Cape Town, I mixed with the wrong crowd and now I’m here. There are still people out there who believe in us, I’m glad that Mzukisi has taken the time to give back and encourage us to do good things with our lives.”
Regional commissioner Nkosinathi Breakfast referred to Silandela as a “partner in rehabilitation”, saying “it is pleasing to see an ex-offender doing his bit”.
Breakfast commended the response of the inmates and applauded Silandela.
“The East London maximum facility has some of the most well-behaved inmates. We encounter problems but we have a good relationship. When prisoners leave this facility, we want to see changed and rehabilitated people.
“We want to assist in terms of instilling the culture of teaching and learning,” he said.
Breakfast concluded by saying he was impressed by what Silandela had done as it was the first time an ex-inmate had donated books to the correctional facility.
Mzukisi Silandela, who is managing director of At 40 Publishers, a Komani-based publishing house, served seven years imprisonment after pleading guilty to killing his girlfriend in 1999.
He was released on parole in December 2005.
It was while he was in prison that he discovered a love of reading and literature, which continues to this day.
Silandela, who has authored five books since his release, donated 50 books to the value of R8660 to the East London facility.
When addressing other inmates Silandela said: “I committed a crime and I got caught. What I learnt in here is what I applied outside when I left prison, that is why I’m a changed man today.
“It is important to make and learn from one’s mistakes,” adding that prisoners should make use of the skills they are taught in the correctional facility.
Lunathi Nyamela, 29, who is sentenced to life imprisonment, said: “Seeing one of our own coming here and encouraging us to be better people means a lot to me. It shows that rehabilitation truly works.
“My dreams of becoming a teacher may never come true but being here is a learning curve for me.”
Nyamela is also the chief librarian at the facility.
Bongo Molelekwa, 32, who was sentenced to 25 years for housebreaking and being in possession of a firearm and live ammunition, said he was an academic who made wrong decisions.
“Since I came here I started tutoring maths and accounting because I have always been good with calculations. I regret all I have done.
“Now I understand what they mean when they say crime does not pay.
“I keep myself busy so as not to think about everything that is happening outside. If I were to be released I would make it a point to educate the youth about prison life,” Molelekwa said.
Wesley Herman, 33, said: “I am confined because of the lifestyle I lived when I was in Cape Town, I mixed with the wrong crowd and now I’m here. There are still people out there who believe in us, I’m glad that Mzukisi has taken the time to give back and encourage us to do good things with our lives.”
Regional commissioner Nkosinathi Breakfast referred to Silandela as a “partner in rehabilitation”, saying “it is pleasing to see an ex-offender doing his bit”.
Breakfast commended the response of the inmates and applauded Silandela.
“The East London maximum facility has some of the most well-behaved inmates. We encounter problems but we have a good relationship. When prisoners leave this facility, we want to see changed and rehabilitated people.
“We want to assist in terms of instilling the culture of teaching and learning,” he said.
Breakfast concluded by saying he was impressed by what Silandela had done as it was the first time an ex-inmate had donated books to the correctional facility.