Parolees, inmates hopeful for future

The Class of 2024 achieved a pass rate of 96.2%

This was announced by the Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald at the Johannesburg Correctional Centre on Friday.

His announcement comes four days after the release of the 2024 NSC matric results.

On Monday, the Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube released the final National Senior Certificate results for the matric class of 2024, which shows a 4.4% increase to an overall of 87.3% pass rate.

Speaking to the media, 31-year-old inmate Sinesipho Phindu said he is grateful for a chance to change his life.

"This case of mine has become a point of change in my life because I have committed bad things in the community, and hence I am now incarcerated in the correctional services. I took this chance to reflect on my mistakes and rectify the mistakes that I have done in the past to society, my family and the community as well.

"I have taken this opportunity to show the outside world and the youth that is on substance abuse, that you as a person make mistakes in life and there is a moment that will come and you will have to change . I would like to thank the department of education and the correctional services for this opportunity. (Today) it has been a moment of gratitude in my life."

Phindu is currently serving a sentence of 20 years for a sexual offence.

Thirty-four-year-old Chane van Heerden, who is currently serving her murder sentence, says school gave her an opportunity to do something to improve her life. 

"Today (Friday) was the best day of my life, it was really an inspiration to go forward and do better as I go on and I am just happy that they gave us an opportunity to actually be here today (Friday) and celebrate because a lot of people think that when you are in prison you don't think about education."

Meanwhile, 22-year-old Bafana Bidi, who achieved six distinctions in his matric exam and being the third highest candidate in the country says he looking forward to applying for to study either logistics or psychology.

"I am sending my deepest gratitude to my educators, thank for the support, thank you for everything. I want to do psychology as my first option and logistics as my second choice.

"Rehabilitation has done a lot for me, i came with nothing and today I have something, I am grateful for the programs that were provided for us behind bars, my brothers left behind need to focus and know that they can make it."

Bidi is a murder parolee, who had murdered his friend and was given a sentence of eight years and was granted parole for good behaviour.

ALSO READ