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Articles: Jailbird matrics flying high

Posted by admin on Friday, December 29, 2006 - 07:54 PM

29/12/2006 11:33 - (SA)

Cindy Preller, Die Burger Port Elizabeth - To get your matric in prison is to gain the hope of a second chance at life.

That was the clear from the faces of seven excited prisoners in Port Elizabeth who heard on Thursday that they had passed matric. These prisoners were fired up by more than just the promise of an extra piece of chicken, organised by one of the warders at dinnertime on Thursday night. They were inspired by a second chance at a new life outside the walls of the maximum-security St Alban's Prison in North End. The earliest chance for parole for one of them is in 2009. They are serving sentences of between 15 years' and 25 years'. Wants to help his community James Mathambo, 28, who would like to become an accountant, said his matric results were like a dream come true. He said 10 other prisoners who wrote the exams but failed, shouldn't give up hope. They should keep on trying. Siyabulela Makwela, 27, said he was going to use his matric to help him look after his sister's children one day. Melikhaya Manyathi, 27, said he wanted to study education to give something back to his community. Aletta Barnardo, 28, in the women's prison, said it was not the end of the world when one landed in jail. "The prison and God provide one with the opportunity to get a better life through education." Barnardo would like to become a legal secretary when she is released. Rely on bursaries They had to work at night in a cell they shared with six others. Last year, six prisoners passed matric. The exams usually are written at St Alban's Prison as the maximum-security prisoners can't leave the premises. Prisoners who get their matric rely on bursaries to continue their studies in prison.

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