THOHOYANDOU - Many prisoners confessed about how they killed their loved ones, children and partners during the violence against women and children campaign held at the Matatshe Prison last Friday.

This function was attended by many people, including the MEC for Safety and Security, Mrs Dikeledi Magadze.

Many male prisoners stood up and confessed how they killed their loved ones and why they did it. They all pleaded for amnesty and forgiveness and promised to all communities that when they are released from prison, they will never do it again.

Several women stood up and confessed about their wrongdoings. Nokuthula Sibanda (26) of Musina was found guilty of murdering her own infant in 1996, and was then sentenced to ten years imprisonment. She revealed to the meeting why she did the terrible deed. "My message to the community is that please don't do as I did. Please forgive me for what I did. I was so stupid to sacrifice my life for a man, who eventually put me into a mess like this, '' said Nokuthula.

Another prisoner stated that she was married to a gang member who used to earn a living through selling dagga, hi-jackings and robbing people. "Before we got married, he was so sweet, but after we got married, I became the victim of abuse, because he used to beat me everyday with anything near him, until I was half dead. One day I decided to move out of his house and decided to go for my own house, but he then followed me and started beating me severely."

According to her, she reported the matter to the police, but they did nothing to protect her. I was then fed up with his behavior and decided to defend myself. One day he came to my house and started beating me again and this time he wanted to kill me. I then poured acid all over his body and that killed him, and now I am in jail serving life imprisonment."