28 Aug 2013

Not a long time ago, Mr Thabiso Molekedi was a paid employee at Chobe Marina Lodge in Kasane.

In 2010, he stole money and earned himself a prison term. Now, Mr Molekedi calls himself a rehabilitated man and is trying his luck in business. The 41-year-old ex-convict, who walked out of jail in 2012, now earns a living thanks to the knowledge he acquired at the Selebi Phikwe prison.

He operates an upholstery enterprise and a dress-making venture. In an interview, Mr Molekedi said he was encouraged by prison officers at the prison workshop who urged him to seek assistance from the Department of Social and Community Development in the North West District Council as soon as he became a free man.  He did just that and was enrolled in the poverty eradication programme, which gave him machinery and tools.

He was also helped to register the business.  He said lack of operational space as one of the challenges for his business. Currently, he is renting a workshop in the village. Another challenge is that Maun has many upholstery businesses, hence tough competition.

Mr Molekedi said his incarceration taught him positive attributes such as the strength of character to confront life’s challenges. He said he was happy that government’s initiatives and programmes improved the lives of the unemployed. He urged people who were still serving prison terms to take advantage of the rehabilitation programmes. Ends