Young ex-offenders launch war ON crime and drugs

The group, which was praised by premier Ace Magashule in his state of the province address, is determined to keep young people from drugs and prisons

The Kutlwanong Rehabilitated Ex-offenders Organization (KREO) in Odendaalsrus has launched a campaign to raise awareness among young people about the dangers of drug and substance abuse.

This is an initiative by four young people from Kutlwanong, who decided to turn their own lives around and in the process, help their peers overcome their social challenges. They are all ex-offenders who were convicted for different crimes.

After spending years in jail, they decided that their communities still need them, especially fellow ex-offenders who find it hard to get employment, because of their criminal record.

KREO deputy chairperson, Kenneth Busakwe, said him and his colleagues are determined to ensure that other young people do not end up in jail or dead, because of crime and drug abuse.

“We sat down with my friend and identified the challenges in our community. Most young people, because of their involvement with bad company or their family backgrounds, end up in jail. We wanted to stop this cycle and motivate young people to have hope.

“We went around and asked for help. We approached our government, which responded positively to our idea,” said Busakwe.

Busakwe was incarcerated for 15 years. Before that he did finish his grade 12 but later got involved in crime, because of peer pressure.

He told The Weekly that he was abused by his stepfather while growing up and due to his struggle to cope with his family’s problems; he resorted to a “devil-may-care” lifestyle, which involved unholy nocturnal activities.

When he celebrated his 20th birthday in a correctional facility, he did some serious introspection and decided to turn his life around.

“I realised that my life wasted on crime. I had a dream once and now was the time to realize it. I knew God had given me talent and if I used it positively I would reap the rewards. Older people motivated and encouraged me to use my talent to change my life.

“After my release, I met with other ex-offenders who shared my vision. We started with talk shows where we shared our experience. We believe we are agents of change,” added Busakwe.

KREO was established in 2010 by four people. It now boasts more than 400 members and continues to experience some exponential growth. The group has assisted numerous ex-offenders to go back to school and has also helped place 36 young people in a number of expanded public works programme (EPWP) projects.

They also run an anti-drug campaign called Ke Moja, I am fine without Drugs in nine schools in Kutlwanong, in addition to giving motivational talks in correctional centres. They won the 2012 Free State Young Community Developer of the Year Award.

“We have helped 20 young people to be trained as qualified facilitators in HIV/AIDS programmes. Fifteen of our members have formed social enterprise, while others have their own bakery. The Sport for the Future division of this social enterprise deals with substance abuse.

“Our aim is give people alternatives to crime, rather than offer mere lip service,” said Busakwe.

In his State of the Province Address last week, Free State premier, Ace Magashule, expressed concern over the widespread gangs and their prevalent criminal activities. He also expressed concern about drug abuse in certain hotspots in the province, and promised that the government, in partnership with the police, will deal with these problems.

“We intend developing an appropriate partnership with rehabilitated gang leaders and ex-convicts, to engage the youth of the province on the dangers that a criminal lifestyle holds, both to the individual and broader society.

“We are also going to work with young people such as Kutlwanong Rehabilitated Ex-Offenders, who are not afraid to say they have served time in jail. They also say ‘we have come out and we are ambassadors of peace’,” said Magashule.

KREO chairperson, Thabo Mavapa, is excited with what the group has achieved. The former prisoner blames peer pressure as one of the contributing factors to young people getting involved in crime and drug abuse.

“Young people are at risk now, more than ever. But KREO is dedicated to helping willing young people, whether they are ex-offenders or not. I was a member of a gang called the 26 in prison. I know how hard it is to keep up with that. We are in a better position to help our peers because we have experienced these things first hand,” said Mavapa.

KREO’s motto is: “Who knows criminals better that an ex-offender”.