About Us	Search	Advertising

	Brought to you by:

I would like to use this letter not to justify or defend, but just to speak straight.

I am presently incarcerated and serving a prison sentence for my wrongdoings in the community.

I alone am responsible for the wrong I do, yet I always tried to justify my behaviour and drug addiction and always blamed everyone and everything around me.

Today I want to say thank you to the Fish Hoek Police for actually saving my life by arresting me and also the magistrate who sentenced me to prison. If I wasn't stopped, I can't guarantee I would be alive today. The drugs totally controlled my life.

Crime and addiction break relationships and go together like a hand in a glove. They have the same ending - institution, jail or death. There is no-in between or "Maybe I'll be alright", because drugs don't work like that. Addiction is only bad when you decide to do nothing about it.

I will remain an addict/alcoholic for the rest of my life, but it's my choice not to be active and to remain in recovery. This I do, living my life by a 12-step programme with God in my life and in control, because I can?t do it alone.

I'm in prison not only for punishment, but also for rehabilitation and transformation. I've had time to view my criminal acts and addiction not only as lawbreaking, but also according to how they have affected victims and communities, my family and myself.

I have caused so much pain, harm and anger. I would never be able to apologise or repay victims for pain, hurt and losses caused by my selfish actions, but I want to be responsible and accountable by means of living my life according to four core values - trust, respect, integrity and honesty.

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.

So if you?re thinking of doing drugs or crime and getting involved in gangsterism, it doesn?t pay and I?m living proof.

I tried for 30 years and it didn't pay, but today my four-and-a-half-year-old daughter is paying the highest price. Thank you, Fish Hoek Police, for arresting me and giving me my life back.

	Back to top
©