By Nobuhle L. Ngema
Vusumuzi Albert Zwane from Tsakane, Ekurhuleni region, was arrested for armed robbery, and was sentenced for 18 years in 2012 by Villiers Regional Magistrate Court when he was only having matric. However, he used his time in prison to enrol for education with the University of South Africa (UNISA), and represented Boksburg Correctional Facility in the presence of the honorable former Minister of Justice and Correctional services, Michael Masuta.
However, when he got rehabilitated and had to face the community, the stigma continued, but he was well prepared with social integration programs. “What helped me the most was affiliating myself with a different crowd and told myself that I’m never going back to my past deeds. I made friends with people who were playing a positive role in the community such as Arts and Cultural organisations like I-Afrika Theatre Education.”
He is currently a founder and Chairperson of Intshosho Arts and Culture and Heritage Hub which specialises in Theatre. To those who are currently in prison, these are Vusumuzi’s encouraging message to them: “We love you outside. Know that your families, relatives and friends are waiting for you. Please behave so that your dates of release would not be delayed. There is a second chance. Amongst you are leaders who can make a difference and take this country forward in all spheres including the economy.”
Amongst the many things Vususmuzi does to give back to the community, he is a Rotarian – an organisation that is assisting the needy families and or community. He was also part of the Nazareth Baptist leadership since from Groenpunt Maximum facility to Boksburg Correctional Facility. And it saddens him that our leaders tried acquiring our freedom, and many people lost their lives sacrificing their time to spend with their families, time to get proper education – fighting to liberate us from Apartheid regime, but it is painful today to find among our leaders who enrich themselves forgetting to serve people’s needs as citizens of this country.
He said there are hectares of land owned by the white minority people whilst the black majority still lack. Such a hectares of land in the hands of whites can be used to create jobs in the Agricultural sector and that will reduce the unemployed rate and poverty faced by the disadvantaged citizens of this country. Even in the arts and culture industry, artists still have a challenge of not having benefits and permanent job opportunities as so many still die without having money and becomes a struggle to bury them.
“I so wish to even see all students from the basic education level have access to one best syllabus while financial literacy introduced in the early grades of primary school so to avoid the high rate of crime and lack of job and entrepreneurship opportunities.
“We only have a freedom of movement and political freedom, but economically we are still incarcerated. Freedom day should be celebrated to remember our fallen heroes who fought for this country, but there’s still a lot to be done to attain our economic freedom and the best remedy is to combat corruption while pursuing a goal to have access of our land that is not in our hands, and retain our township economy which has been hijacked by foreigners.”
For more information, he can be contactable on: 078 266 7205
