Former prisoners have urged the government to reduce the period for which a criminal record is kept to five years, as it limits their chances of ”going straight”, a conference heard on Monday.
”If the criminal record is there for a lifetime, then you are saying ‘Go back and commit crime’,” said Thabo Makgaretsa, one of the conference coordinators.
He was speaking to reporters at Alexandra in Johannesburg, where former prisoners had gathered to come up with solutions to the problem of crime.
Makgaretsa said when prisoners finish their sentence they are unable to find employment, which forces them back to crime.
”The prisoners get rehabilitated when inside, but the community and corporate world do not give them the support, motivation and chance to redirect their lives once they are out of prison,” Makgaretsa said.
In order to decrease crime, ex-convicts should be involved in skill-development programmes to benefit them, as the corporate world is not willing to employ them, said Makgaretsa.
”There is pressure on the youth to commit crime in order to support their families and girlfriends,” he said.
A former prisoner, Unathi Myoyo (28), said he also found it ”very difficult” to find a job and get financial help for his company because of his criminal record.
”You are sentenced by the community, family and corporate world. What are you supposed to do — go to the street and rob people?” Myoyo asked.
Myoyo was sentenced to five years in 2000 for culpable homicide.
He was an unlicensed driver and was drunk at the time of the accident.
While in prison he started his company, named Get Real Team Events, an event-management and recording company.
He said he was now successful thanks to help from his family.
He said crime will not end if ex-convicts are not included in the economy.
The theme of the conference was: ”Don’t give me food for today but give me something for tomorrow — I have learned by myself”.
It was attended by former prisoners, correctional service officials, members of the public, mentors for the prisoners, lawyers, youth forums and the media. — Sapa