Actor Israel Makoe recounts his life of crime: 'Being arrested was a blessing in disguise'

Actor Israel Makoe believes that his life of crime strangely helped him to actively pursue his career in acting.

Israel reportedly faced an eight-year jail sentence in 1996 for housebreaking and theft.

Although he had not served his full sentence before he was released on good behaviour‚ the actor told Move! that the time he spent behind bars helped him to place focus on his goals and dreams.

He further pointed out that had he not been charged‚ he still would’ve been stuck in his bad ways.

“Being arrested was a blessing in disguise‚” he told the local publication. It’s like my life needed that sentencing for me to fully focus on my dreams of being an actor‚” he said.

Israel is well-known for playing gangster roles on TV and in movies. However‚ he insists that despite everything he did in his past‚ he has never been a gangster in real life.

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“I am not a gangster‚ I have never been a gangster and even in prison‚ I was never a gangster‚” he told Sowetan during an interview.

“I don’t even have tattoos‚ but I was affected by that situation and managed to overcome those nightmares.”