My first day in prison was hectic because I didn’t know anyone there. I was always told by people outside that they sexually assault people if you are new and rob you, but that didn’t happen to me. On my first day in the reception as we arrived at Pollsmoor Prison, there were people who saw me come in at Medium C. That’s where I served my first four months’ sentence. They told people, “Listen here, this is homeboy. Look after him. If anything is going to happen with him, then you are going to see.”
How I adapted to prison life
As time went on, I got used to the routine in prison. I initially didn’t want to eat the food because I wasn’t used to the white mielies. Then I sold my mielies for a four-kit every day, but afterwards, I told myself, “See how fat these people get. I also want to pick up like them.” At first, I was someone who didn’t communicate with the other prisoners. I always sat on my bed or, if it was exercise time, I would go sit alone outside or look for ‘homies’ that stay here by me.
The living conditions
The room that I slept in was room 8. There are no ‘ouens’, only ‘franse’ as they say in prison. There, you can lay until whatever time, but you have to be up in the morning before they come count the inmates, and you must make your bed before the wardens come to count.
Nearing the end of the sentence
As time went on, I was nearly finished with my sentence. Then I went to the phone box, and my mommy told me the correctional service was here by us to ask if I can come out on parole. Then I told her nope, I’m fine, I only got a few months left. That’s when I started to get used to the prison life. Okay then, she started to visit me and put money on my property, that’s for tobacco, instant porridge, and luxuries. Now, I’m starting to get used to the prison life. Right, we wake up at six o’clock in the morning. We always prayed in the morning and before bedtime. There was a brother in the room, he was from Uganda. That’s a place where you don’t have time for yourself because there’s always someone who’s going to bother you.
The challenge of cohabitation
I slept with a homey from that stays here at the same place here by me in Manenberg. I went to prison to finish my sentence. When I get a visit, then my mommy must always give his name. I got so fed up with him, I had to ask our warden to move him out of my room because I started to feel like someone who’s working in a crèche. I’m already in prison for my wrongdoings, now you also come with your problems by me. That’s all. Things I did like in prison, but the hardest part of all was, I did miss out on Christmas and New Year’s Eve. I missed my salads and truffle.
Every year, I said I’m going to eat truffle, then I end up in prison. The hardest part of prison is you can’t walk late outside; they lock you up early, and there’s a time when they just decide not to give you exercise. Then you must sleep all day, and there isn’t even a TV. Now, you have to watch against four walls or sit and talk. Let it get dark; let you get into your bed, and if they come to count, they’re going to lock the prison now, and if you’re not at your room, then you must stay there where you are, and that’s not to sleep on someone else’s bed. You’re itching all night, especially if they don’t like to wash, and that’s the only bed that’s open. You don’t have other options; you must go lay there on that bed.
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