Cape Town - From convicted murderer to celebrated graduate.
Until recently, Monica Tshabalala had a promising future ahead of her. Having grown up in Kroonstad in the Free State , she was studying to become an IT technician. But her life took a turn for the worse.
Last year, she was convicted of murdering her newborn baby and sentenced to 12 years behind bars. But she didn’t let the suffocating walls and bars of a Free State prison stifle her growth.
Tshabalala was part of a group of 80 offenders who were capped at a ceremony at Pollsmoor Correctional Centre on Thursday.
The graduation was a joint ceremony for inmates from Pollsmoor, Eastern Cape and the Free State.
Tshabalala was handed a 12-year sentence, and will serve six of them before applying for parole in 2020.
The mother of two deeply regrets taking the life of her third child.
“I hate myself for what I did because I miss my son and my other two children, I did it out of anger because his father denied that the baby was his but that is no excuse,” she said.
Tshabalala graduated in building construction and tiling, and wants to continue learning new skills in her bid to turn her life around.
“I always thought anything to do with construction was for men but after doing it, I love it and hope it helps me provide for my family when I get out. I hope it will also serve as inspiration to other offenders,” she said.
The graduates were made up of 65 female and 15 male offenders who received certificates in beadwork, building construction, recycling, plastering and tiling.
Another graduate, Azola Tsawe, 29, from Philippi is serving a two-and-a-half year sentence for stealing a cellphone. She was thrilled that she would be able to leave prison with a qualification.
“Before I got arrested, I worked promoting products but now I’m happy that I will leave the prison with a skill that will help me provide for my children,” she said.
She said she was never interested in beadwork before, even when she was first introduced to it in the correctional facility.
“At first I found it boring and I thought I won’t last but after some time I got used to it and look at me today. I’m even getting a certificate for it,” said Tsawe.
Tsawe will be out on parole in two weeks.
“After bonding with my three children when I get out, I want to start a business of selling beadwork,” she added.
Correctional Services acting national commissioner Zacharia Modise said the graduation ceremony is an affirmation that the women have successfully completed the training and are ready to transfer their skills to fellow offenders.
“This will not only enhance the rehabilitation effort but will also help build a sense of worth and value among offenders,” he added.
Cape Argus