INTRODUCTION
What started off as a story which resembles the story of what many men and Fathers endure in reality in a constant battle for financial freedom, for their rights to be a Father, for a right to keep their dignity, for the right to be treated equally before a court of law or just simple equality, for a right to practise a profession of their choice, for a right to be associated to an activism group seeing equality, for a right to be a citizen and complain when your basic human rights are infringed without the proverbial sword of ‘Persecution’ hanging over your head, and lastly even your right to Freedom changed into of story of what happens when the normal organs of the State fail not only men, but what human beings endure in holding cells, while the justice system fails the masses.
What was witnessed was not only gross human rights violations but abuse of power, that inflict such damage to society and deconstruct family systems daily.
This is done by a system that developed from its struggle against Inequality, indignity, freedom of association, Life, Freedom of Speech, right to privacy, Right to Life the very same Basic Human Rights that encompass the cornerstone of the Constitution we adopted when announced to the world the birth of a nation founded on Constitutional values and protection.
This is a fictional account of the total conditions of ‘hell’ while in custody, which may act as a deterrent to get arrested or a reason to highlight the treatment of humans while awaiting trial, a sometimes satirical account of events and characters, which inspire the next 12 hours. A story of many questions and few answers, a story of hope and a somewhat restoration in the meaning of “humanity” found in the last place one will care to look. This trait of “humanity” is more evident in the most violent of “criminals”, people who are marked as murderers, armed robbers, rapists, drug dealers and car thieves. This is highlighted by how vengeful heartless women abuse the legal system to maintain power and with that deliberately alienate a father from his children.
A story of hope while in utter darkness, with the only hope to get out next day or the next day until the days ended, the only hope not to feel alone again, the only link to outside keeping you alive while a space that should occupy 17 people holds 50, no sleep, no nutrition while the only source of vitamins is a slice of nectarine, the fatigue one faces in going to court in an slightly impaired state induced by lack of sleep malnutrition and ill health.
A Story that will give a sneak peak into being taken from serving society and financial survival into the abyss where you learn to cherish ‘the cost’ of a slice of brown bread, from people who have nothing left in life but the desire to apologise in songs sang at night among awaiting trial prisoners, “Zodwa” translated from Swahili “Mother forgive me”, a desire to make a better life for themselves at all cost. This cost often involves months underground in illegal mining tunnels and often even death. This story touches on the despair in people that everybody’s hope is occupied in getting the opportunity to enter the world of the much talked about “Zama Zama” or illegal gold miners. This dream among prisoners that 6 months underground will set them up for life is often the reason that many people already engulfed in poverty, crime, drug abuse and extreme violence still wake up that this dream will give them the opportunity to enjoy a very simple life, free from the very crimes that got them into the incarceration in the first place.
A story of leadership witnessed among even a ‘small’ incarcerated society confined in 40 square meter perimeter and the rules they live by to ensure there is order.
A story about the basic human emotions, survival, ecstasy, fear, hope, courage, and love, across racial lines in a still much-divided society, where your rights are determined by your social standing, race and gender.
A story of belief in spiritual growth when you learn to confront all fears and find new ways to communicate with your Creator to find a new foundation of trust beyond this realm. When God says, “I will catch you” and you await His promise knowing any doubt stands between you and freedom.
When you have the privilege to witness how Truth can set a captive free from emotional chains and transform his physical appearance with a glow even awaiting a trial, he willingly embraces his punishment of possible lifetime imprisonment. How he found his way to forgiveness and freedom even after he committed the most horrendous crime.
Lastly a story of the mental cost of such ordeals on society, the trauma-induced mental conditions involved in not only family law but in particular law, the enforcement thereof and the resulting processes thereafter, to the fear of facing society from several different perspectives.
All names and places will be changed to protect not only myself, but the people also I met as well as the facts of a sub judicae court case. No attempt will be made intentionally implicate the officials involved in any allegations other than those made during the official recording of proceedings, which will
be referred to for any doubt in the truthful version of events.
All groups and associations will be renamed for this version of this account to ensure the safety of not only myself but also those who are associated with a similar cause or passion.
This is a peak into the daily life and plea of one alienated parent, alienated family, family of accused people sitting daily in holding cells across the country, that Where are our Rights Guaranteed in Chapter 2 (BILL OF RIGHTS) of our globally respected Constitution which by the age of true democracy in South Africa became famous for An age whereby our very first democratic president was awarded the Nobel prize, in his effort to combat inequality, was awarded as a HERO OF DEMOCRACY.
This is a story of reality encountered over a period of 12 days incarcerated in a remote police station
among the worst violent offenders I ever had the privilege to meet.