My dear friends
Saturday's "Ungikhumbule" (Remember me) programme
on Radio Khwezi was a real pleasure to listen to. This time, Christian Hlongwane hosted
three former inmates, Victor Kunene, John Dube and Jabulani Xulu.
Jabulani is obviously the most colourful character of the
three. Generally known by his nickname "Ngulube" he spells it proudly in English
- PIG.
The 50-55 minutes seemed to fly by as the men told their
stories about life in and after jail. Listeners participated by telephone as well.
Christian reminded us that the Department of Prisons has
adopted new terminology. It has become the Department of Correctional Services. Prisoners
are correctional clients. The aim of the Correctional Services is to correct the
characters of correctional clients through various packages of rehabilitation programmes.
In response to a listener's question the men dispelled
romantic myths about jail life - plenty food, watching TV, mysterious gangs etc. The
reality of loss of freedom, hunger, perverted sexual lifestyles and violence is hidden
from the public eye.
Another concept that the men explained was
"isimokolo" (smuggling). Articles like drugs and weapons are smuggled into
prisons with the help of relatives and friends. Worse still, some law enforcement agents
succumb to bribes and end up being part of the smuggling chain.
As a matter of fact, Victor and John were police officers
who got entangled in crime and landed behind bars. They told listeners that in prison a
policeman, a judge, doctor and other professionals are just like any other prisoner.
We were told that the way different prisoners respond to the department's interventions
determines whether they come out rehabilitated or not. Some improve their educational
level and acquire skills whilst others sink deeper into the mire.
One of the men captured my imagination when he told us that
for six months after his release he did not have the courage to go outside his house to
face the community. His greatest fear was that one it was known that he is out of jail and
in the area again he would be suspected for every crime committed in the township.
My thoughts took me back to Chibini. We had a notorious
local fowl thief, Mzwempi. Often Mzwempi would complain that whenever people heard an
unsettling noise in the fowl-run they would automatically start shouting, "Mzwempi,
that's you again", whether he was the culprit or not.
It is tragic that in a feat of rage or strong impulses to
yield to temptation people do not consider or choose to disregard the price they will have
to pay.
My uncle had a friend who was an ex-convict. One day when my
uncle took out some notes to count the man warned him sternly, "Please Jila my
friend, never display money in front of me. When I see money everything else becomes hazy;
all I see is that money."
Well, my mother and my brother have had the terrible
experience of being faced with red-eyed armed robbers forcefully repeating their mantra,
"Imali! Imali! Imali!" (Money! Money! Money!)
From my childhood days at Chibini. I remember how when the
blood was boiling during 'giya dances' some would shout,
"Yiz' ijele,
ngoboshwa ngiphume!"
(Jail is nothing
I'll go in and I'll go out)
Unfortunately, the period between 'ngoboshwa' and 'ngiphume'
can be many years.
These three men are realising the value of time. Ngulube
remarked that time marches on when you are in jail; sickness, aging and death are not put
on hold.
One listener expressed the wish that these men would not
turn back to their old ways. Is that a legitimate concern? Unfortunately, yes.
Ngulube gave us one reason why some ex-convicts revert to
crime again. When they come out of prison they are dismayed to see the advances made by
others whilst they were incarcerated. To make up for lost time some then try shortcuts
which lead them to more trouble.
Efforts by the Department of Correctional Services to
rehabilitate their clients through various programmes are laudable but as the three men
testified the greatest factor in changing their lives was the gospel of our Lord and
Saviour.
Those who are familiar with prison ministries like Chuck
Colson's Prison Fellowship will know that there are studies that prove that inmates that
meet with Christ experience profound character change and have a much better chance of not
being repeat offenders.
There is a general complaint that rehabilitated inmates meet
up with rejection and skepticism when they return to their communities. It is said that
even churches seem to be reluctant to accept them into the fold.
Ngulube brought up the other side of the matter; converted
prisoners are sometimes put off by misunderstandings of their own making. He related how
once when he testified in church some shouted, "Uyesabeka!" Now, churchgoers
know that in that context that means "You are an awesome God!" This is a poetic
way of saying "Praise the Lord!" On the other hand, the literal meaning though
could be "You are horrible!" or "You are fearsome!" Ngulube thought
the parishioners were expressing their apprehension of him because of his past.
Listening to Ngulube's story one cannot but praise God for
His marvellous working. God's power is manifested when a rude taxi-driver who sank into
crime and got arrested, meets with God in jail, remains true to his newfound faith after
he is freed and becomes a respectable taxi-owner.
Can one blame those who upon hearing such a testimony shout
"Uyesabeka?"
"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on
me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to
bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness
for the prisoners" (Isaiah 61:1)
Have a blessed week!
Pressing on!
In His love
Fano Sibisi
