Literature

An ex-offender, Joshua Nndindeleni Ratshitanga, who spent more than 13 years in prison, launched his book, The Wisdom of God in You, at the Kutama Sinthumule Correctional Centre a fortnight ago.

Ratshitanga, a political activist, motivational speaker and poet, had completed his manuscript while doing time in the facility. He was lucky enough for his book to win the hearts of the publishers at Muanza Zwivhuya Publishing House, who eventually published it.

The guests at the event included ex-offenders, friends of the author and delegates from local and provincial government.

The MEC for Transport, Safety Security and Liaison, Ms Mapula Mokaba-Phukwana, reminded the audience that it was hard for prisoners to focus on rehabilitation during the former political dispensation. “You will all agree that imprisonment was associated with hard labour and negative attitudes from prison officials,” she said. “Thanks to the new ethos of our democracy, which came up with programmes aimed at turning our prisons into centres of excellence, our focus is now on rehabilitation and not retribution.”

She indicated that all correctional officers who were involved in rehabilitating Ratshitanga deserved praise for making sure that the conditions at their facilities were conducive to allowing a writer to excel at his work.

“Writing is a solitary-confinement activity,” she said. “It does not and cannot take place in a disorganised and noisy environment. Excellent writing like what we are witnessing here today is a product of ideas conceived in empowering correctional centres.”

Mokaba-Phukwana added that it was her wish that The Wisdom of God in You could be prescribed as a textbook to be read in schools in the near future. “By the time we reach that stage, we should find it easy to choose from your collection,” she said. “So, Mr Ratshitanga, this book cannot be your first and last. I therefore urge you to make use of this gift while it lasts. Keep on writing.”

Ratshitanga's proud publisher, Dr Annikie Ravhudzulo, said that she had noticed the undeniable talent in the writer and decided to develop his manuscript for publishing. “As a publisher, I do not judge people by their outward appearance. I receive the manuscript of whoever has written a book and put it through the evaluation process,” she said. She urged all inmates and guests at the book launch to be strong in life if they wanted to realise their dreams.

Ravhudzulo told the inmates that they had not been created to be in jail. “Change your mindset; even God is not happy about your being in prison,” she said. “When you get a chance, go out there and behave as a human being.”

The chief deputy commissioner for the national Department of Correctional Services, Mr Nick Ligege, congratulated the author and said that South Africa was still expecting more books from him. “A widespread culture of reading and writing will assist us as nation to meet the demands of developing a knowledgeable society,” he said. “The importance of reading in order to achieve success is fundamental for individuals and essential for nation-building and social cohension.”

Mokaba-Phokwana bought at least 500 units of Ratshitanga's book. The group COO for Khensani Corrections (which is responsible for education at KSCC), Mr Gregory Starke, said that the author's achievement needed to be celebrated.

Ratshitanga was very precise in his response to the rehabilitation and support given to him by all the stakeholders involved in his rehabilitation. “I am speechless; my publisher has said a mouthful already,” he said.