Ex- criminal reflects on tough life after prison

VELI Sithole, 41, lived the high life more than 10 years ago. He drove an expensive German car and had numerous girlfriends. He made his fortunes by robbing rich Chinese families.

He said he loved the good life and succumbed to peer pressure. His luck ran out in 2005 when he was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for robbing a Chinese businessman of R1.2-million at his home in Polokwane.

Together with his seven accomplices, they stabbed a seven-year-old child and assaulted three people with pistols to force the businessman to give them money.

Sithole was released on parole in July last year. He said though he had changed his ways, life on the outside was not easy.

“I lived every township man ’ s dream. Life was good. I drove a fast car, had every woman I wanted and I was never broke. Now I have nothing. I learnt that there are no short cuts in life. It took me several years in prison to realise that I had to change my ways. ”

In prison he began to reflect on his life. He completed matric, did mechanical engineering and acquired skills in painting. He said he was currently studying for a degree in theology. Despite his qualifications, he said he struggled to find a job.

“Nobody wants to work with a criminal. It does not matter how much good I do, the criminal record closes doors in my face.

“People call me for interviews because they are impressed by my CV but when I tell them about my criminal record they promise to call me,” he said.

He said he was forced to move from his home because of the stigma attached to ex-prisoners.

“I moved to a different place with my brother because people see me as a criminal. Neighbours blamed me for everything that went missing. A lot of people who supported me have passed away, so I had no one to speak on my behalf. Sometimes I feel like life in prison is better because you do not have to worry about what you will eat and wear,” he said.

Sithole was one of dozens of parolees and probationers who attended an outreach programme in Tembisa yesterday.

The programme was arranged by the Randburg community corrections office aimed at addressing challenges that ex-prisoners, their families and community members faced.