Cape Town - Vuyani Nqevu walks out of Pollsmoor Prison a free man on Friday. He is looking forward to a new life as an artist.
For the past 16 years he has been in and out of prison for offences, including theft and possession of drugs.
During Nqevu’s last stint, the prison’s sport, recreation, arts and culture co-ordinator Brandon Verrooi, noticed his meticulous drawing ability.
Verrooi placed him on the arts skills training course offered to prisons by Artreach SA, a non-profit organisation.
In the art class his talent progressed under the guidance of art teacher Astrid Gebhardt.
When he leaves prison on Friday, Artreach will provide Nqevu with accommodation, a temporary job and an opportunity to further his education. He said this was a dream come true.
Nqevu said he was committed to turning his life around.
“I have been in and out of prison for breaking into people’s cars and houses, and robbery. I was given a second chance in 2013 by means of parole, but a few months later I broke the conditions
.
“But now I will not disappoint because this is an opportunity most people would grab with both hands. I am not coming back here and that is a promise,” said the soft-spoken Nqevu.
“It was not easy at first, but now I have developed an interest, a day does not pass without me penning down on paper. It feels good to acquire such drawing skills. Before these classes I was nothing. That will be a thing of the past as I will use the skills to become something in life,” he said.
He had dropped out of school in 1999 after passing Grade 8. He and his family moved from the Eastern Cape to Cape Town, but it was not long before he ran away from home, lived under a bridge with friends and landed in trouble.
His release from prison gave him the opportunity to meet his parents and his younger brother, whom he last saw 16 years ago.
Verrooi said the art programme had made a huge difference to Nqevu.
“Whenever we gave them homework they did it despite the overcrowding and prison gangs.
Vuyani is a talented guy. I hope he carries on and comes back as an ambassador.”
Verrooi said the artworks of Nqevu and other inmates were donated to a Goodwood gallery.
Gebhardt said Nqevu was “exceptionally talented”.
“In prison was his first time that he had used a paint brush,” she said
. He would continue to be mentored outside prison,” Gebhardt said.
Cape Times
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