After spending 15 years in jail, a former gang member has taken it upon himself to use his story as an example for young children who are on the verge of joining gang.
Speaking to VOC News, the 49-year-old from Lavender Hill said he came from a good home, with a good upbringing, yet he succumbed to the pressure of joining a gang.
“I can not even blame my upbringing for the choices I made, I was just naughty and wanted to look cool, but it cost me 15 years of my life that I can never get back,” he explained.
Looking back at his experience while being confined to the prison cells, he shared some shocking details of what he experienced in jail.
“I was shocked to see how things are done, how we are stripped naked infront of everyone, stripped of all dignity. There are so many stories that I can tell you, but the only thing I want to say is that it is not like anything I have ever experienced before.”
He further stressed how the Voice of the Cape helped him restore his faith and stay in contact with his friends and family.
“Allah used me, he wanted me to go through this to motivate other young children. The Voice of the Cape Radio station played a significant role, through on-air content like Prisoners Hour. It was so heart-warming to hear my letters being read and knowing that my family hears them and writes back. The radio also helped be get closer to Allah through the programmes that they had, and the presenters at the time also played a pivotal, as they always spoke life into me,” he added.
Listen to full audio below:
