A Dube, Soweto, mother walked into prison a broken woman and a convicted fraudster, not knowing that this was where she would find her mojo.
After being jailed for 10 years, Morwesi Theledi tasted freedom after six years, with her head held high as an award-winning actress.
Such is the motivational story of the 33-year-old, who confessed that when she was released, she found it hard to part with her jail cell, prison garb and the community that she had grown fond of.
“Prison was a blessing in disguise for me. Today I'm regarded as a top actress and I never knew that I could act. I went in with low self-esteem but came out as an award-winning actress,” said the single mom of two.
Morwesi is the lead actress in Stories Behind Bars: Volume Three, which was staged at the Auto & General Theatre On The Square in Sandton on Women’s Day. With the exception of Morwesi, the 18-cast crew are all inmates. They have just returned from the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown.
Morwesi stepped out of the Johannesburg Prison just nine weeks ago. She joined her former inmates in Grahamstown and last week at the Mandela Square as the main character in the highly-acclaimed musical about life behind bars for women.
Her life took a turn in 2008 when she worked as a supervisor for one of the major banks at the Southgate Mall. She had the car and all the perks that completed the lifestyle of a twenty-something township girl. Two of her regular clients started giving her special attention, first with a R6 000 Woolworths voucher tip, then surprise payments into her credit card and payments of other debts.
Morwesi never questioned how they knew her bank details and about her debts as she was busy enjoying her new-found debt-free lifestyle.
Then it was payback time. The men asked Morwesi to be part of a plot to defraud the bank. She was to transfer R2.7 million from a well-known blue chip company’s business account into another account. When she refused, the men threatened to kill her son and family members. She did the transfer but later panicked and tried to get the account frozen by transferring R27 million instead.
When the bank forensics discovered the plot she was fired and reported to the police and ended up in the Commercial Crime Court. The syndicate repeated their threats to kill her son if she named them. She lied to the court and took the full rap.
To make matters worse, she discovered that she was pregnant with her second child. The boy was born in March 2010.
On July 11, Morwesi was sentenced to 10 years in prison. In 2012, she had to part with her son so he could live a normal life. She calls this period a turning point.
“I cried the whole night after he was taken away. I decided that I needed to see a psychologist and that was the first time I told my story. It was the day I was set free (emotionally).”
An education and a faith-based organisation, Pillar to Post, was looking for a replacement to give pupils prison tours and also to tell the schoolchildren their story. “They approached me. I agreed. I was very shy with no confidence but that programme brought the best out of me. I would share my story and give them tours.”
For the first time she says she had to deal with her issues. Morwesi was asked to share her experience at an event about being pregnant and raising a child in jail. She says that was the first time the Pillar to Post people discovered her gift for public speaking.
“My motto became 'forward I go. I need to empower myself. I need to change'.”
After six years and five months, Morwesi walked out of prison. Her youngest son, now aged 6, brother, sister and dad were there to meet her when she took her first steps to freedom.
She says her oldest son did not come to meet her because he did not believe she was finally coming home and her mom remained home to prepare for her welcome party.
Morwesi said her family are still trying to get used to her new celeb status and are very supportive.
“My mom did not change anything in the house. When I walked into the house I realised that everything looked exactly the same.”
The Sunday Independent