SA Corrections April08.pdf - Department of Correctional Services

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Don’t let your past determine your future By Nandipha Ramadikela Charmaine Phillips-Rabie is grateful to the Department of Correctional Services, the Human Rights Commission and the justice system for giving her a second chance in life. She was sentenced in Pietermaritzburg Supreme Court on 23 February 1984 at the age of 20, for four life sentences. She was incarcerated at Kroonstad Correctional Centre. Charmaine said on her arrival in Kroonstad, she was taken to the visitors’ room instead of reception. “I was very cheeky, people mistook my cheek for aggressiveness – people were scared of me. I was an angry little girl,” she said. Phillips-Rabie apologised for her behaviour during her first years of incarceration, saying correctional officials were good to her and that she still keeps contact with some of them. “I am proud of the system, if it was not for it, I would not be where I am today. I am truly grateful that even Minister Ngconde Balfour sometimes checked in on me,” she said. Today the owner of a salon in Kroonstad, Charmaine said she grew up in a broken home and was placed in a children’s home as a result. Then she ran away to help her sister who was in trouble, a decision that also got her into trouble. Social welfare put her into foster care. She ran away from there too and went to Durban beach front as a street kid. R E H A B I L I TAT I O N Contentment. Charmaine Phillips-Rabie plaiting the hair of one of her employees. She got involved in drugs and prostitution and then met her co-accused, Pieter Charmaine Phillips-Rabie looking at some of the certificates she obtained while incarcerated. Grundlingh in 1981. From this notorious relationship grew a partnership in crime. They were nicknamed “Bonnie and Clyde” following four murders and several robberies. Kroonstad Correctional Centre C, which is a Centre of Excellence was her home for 21 years and that is where she was presented an opportunity to sort out her chaotic life. “I met my Lord and Saviour and for the first time I started to believe in myself,” she said. “I passed matric while incarcerated, did hairdressing and different diploma courses.” SA Corrections Today She also discovered her artistic talent and competed in both local and national art competitions. The little money she made out of artwork, she sent to her son and two brothers. At the prison salon, she was tasked to become a mentor so that she could pass her skills to fellow inmates. “The Department of Correctional Services recognised that I was truly rehabilitated after having served 20 years and they released me on parole in 2004,” she said. After prison her life was not as difficult as she thought it was going be. Charmaine was given a “wonderful opportunity” by being given work at David’s Hairstylist and she built up a huge clientele. She desired to grow further because in prison people used her as an example and she did not want to disappoint them. She started Effective Hairstyling Salon in her house, which is a registered business. An accountant takes care of the books. It has a mellow, homely feel and does not look commercial and rowdy. There are paintings (of local artists and hers) on the wall, a combination of old and modern furniture (which she put together with her husband Hennie Rabie), including a modern basin. The lights in glass vases give the room a warm glow and the classical music in the background brings peace to a customer’s soul. Indeed a good place to have your hair done. The petite woman has also employed two ladies – one works during the week and the other on Saturdays. Charmaine said although she received many requests from schools, churches and rehabilitation (alcohol) organisations to be a motivational speaker, she has not been to many because she wanted to focus on her business. She plans to open an art gallery in her house where people can come for a cup of coffee. • Charmaine was recently on Carte Blanche. During the crew’s visit to Centre C, Head of the centre, Ms Martie Els spoke of Phillips-Rabie’s bad behaviour in the first two years of her incarceration which changed gradually after she started participating in rehabilitation programmes. “She is my hairstylist even outside,” said Ms Els. Regional Commissioner, Mr Zach Modise commended Charmaine for adhering to her parole conditions.
Ex-offenders are doing it for themselves By Tshifhiwa Magadani Mthuthuzeli Cothoza, the founder of Ex-prisoner Education, Rehabilitation Training and Skills (Experts) believes nothing is impossible. And he is living proof of that. Cothoza served a 20-year term for robbery and car theft at Pretoria Central and was released in . When he came out he vowed that he would not waste his time with crime anymore. These days he lives according to Dr Norman Peale words, “You can if you can”. The organisation Experts is based in Soshanguve and supports ex-offenders by engaging them in coffin manufacturing, spraypainting of cars and mechanics. Experts was formed in 200 and is currently employing twenty ex-offenders. “I formed this organisation in order to assist ex-offenders to have something to fall on after they have served their sentence so as to minimise re-offending behaviour,” said Cothoza. Cothoza emphasised the fact that government alone cannot solve the high rate of unemployment and that communities must join hands to assist. He also explained that it was not only ex-offenders who benefited from Cothoza believes nothing is impossible and says the same applies to self-employment. From drug addict and gangster to caregiver By Tshifhiwa Magadani A rehabilitated drug addict and gangster has opened his arms to street children. Trevor Mkhize, who hails from KwaZulu- Natal is looking after orphaned children in Salvokop, Pretoria. To many people, looking after street children may seem like a daunting task but for Trevor it is like any other job, and one that he loves on top of it. Trevor established a shelter for orphaned and street children in 2003 and it houses about 30 children between the ages 8 and18. When asked why he decided to take care of street children, he replied: “Being a former gangster and a drug addict, I fully understand the rough and difficult conditions of life in which these children found themselves in”. Trevor believes that everyone should help those less fortunate. He has a soft spot for the poor because he grew up in a poverty-stricken family. “People should refrain from using the term ‘street kids’ because there is no street that can bare children. It is the responsibility of all members of society to R E H A B I L I TAT I O N Experts but the whole community benefited indirectly because, to some extent, they pre- help those who are less privileged because in African culture, a child belongs to the whole community,” he said. Trevor Mkhize (third from left in front row) with children from his shelter, Child Soul Care display trophies they have won in tournaments. Trevor served time in Johannesburg Correctional Centre of four years and he was still grateful for the role that the APRIL/MAY 2008 vent re-offending. Cothoza talked animatedly during the interview but frowned when asked about the factors that might be affecting their work negatively. With an open hand on his chin he confessed that financial back-up was their main obstacle. “The community should play a role in rehabilitating and accepting ex-offenders back,” said Mr Mnyakeni, the landlord of the premise where Experts operate from. Mr Mnyakeni seemed to be well informed about the White paper on Corrections. “To give them a space to work in is the least I can offer since plenty of inmates have undergone courses in prison, so they must be kept busy. By so doing they can fend for themselves and their families.” It was not hard to twist the director of parolees and probationers, Mr Ronald Ntuli’s arm to grant this journalist an interview to hear and understand what the department does to support ex-offenders who are eager to start their own businesses. “The department does not support ex-offenders financially, but it tries to link them up with employers and agencies for instance, such as Khula,” Ntuli said. Khula is an independent agency of the Department of Trade and Industry that provides financial and mentorship services to small and medium enterprises through establishing networks or partnerships. department played in rehabilitating him. While incarcerated, he participated in a number of rehabilitation programmes. A correctional centre can make you re-assess your life and start thinking of what you want to be in life, chuckled Trevor. “Prison is a place that enables people who have wronged the society to be rehabilitated and to lead a good life,” he said. “When you are sent to prison, two things can happen – you can learn to be a worse thug than before or you can use the time inside to rebuild yourself.” Trevor teaches the children he looks after what he had learned during his incarceration. He teaches them carpentry and welding. His shelter in Pretoria, Child Soul Care, accommodates children from as far as Venda. Some of the children from his shelter have matriculated and two of them are furthering their studies at the University of South Africa. His boys also participate in sports competitions and they are doing well. The boys have won five trophies in tournaments and Trevor never stops praising them. Last year September his boys won a trophy in the annual Tshwane Allied Street Children soccer tournament.
Page 1 and 2: i n s i d e Deputy Minister’s Bud
Page 3 and 4: Continued from front page Capacity
Page 5 and 6: M A N A G E M E N T N E W S Ministe
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Page 11 and 12: R E H A B I L I TAT I O N Hip jazz
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Page 17 and 18: Restorative Justice success By Debb
Page 19 and 20: Siyalingana, we are equal By Senteb
Page 21 and 22: T H E F O R U M • R E A B U A The
Page 23 and 24: Breyton Paulse (in the suit) and fa

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