Prison Journalism: It's alright not to have

Prison Journalism: It's alright not to haveWesley Leong was incarcerated at the age of 15 in 1996 at Pollsmoor Prison. He is currently part of Restore's research and reintegration project.

by Wesley Leong

02-05-2024 11:40

in Prison Journalism

Prison journalism

Image via Pexels

When I was living on the street, I managed to spend a lot of time with others who were also living on the streets. I learned how things work on the streets, where to get food, what places help the needy, etc. But I must say there was one specific lesson I learned while living on the streets.

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In the beginning I was so deep in depression when I found myself lying on the street. I was embarrassed by my situation and ashamed that this had happened to me. And scared to my bones as I never knew how to handle this lifestyle and surviving it. There were days where I had no hope, no means for living; I was taking substances. It was the beginning of a down spiral.

People I met along the way I lived in many places while spending over 4 years on the streets. Places like Parklands, Table View, and town, ending myself up in the Southern Suburbs. I met a lot of offenders and gangsters. All of them, mostly, were involved in acute gangsterism. Drugs etc. were the main things I believed why they chased that lifestyle instead of getting their lives together. To live in those means is completely insane and to any living human being does not make sense.

Living in those conditions I must say when I was in prison, the living conditions were not up to standards, the food too was not even edible. If I were to compare it to the living standards outside on the streets, then prison is a better place to be. No doubt.

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Caught between a rock and a hard place So I found myself there and there again that I cannot permit myself to live in those conditions and that prison would be a better place to be. Sadly, I understand why some of the ex-offenders chose to rather live the life they do, with the hard circumstances. It's like being stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Something special that happened I was daily locked up like rubbish, high on drugs, and it was a scary sight to see. All I ever wanted to do was hustle more and more every day, without any rest at all. I had to find a way to have something, no matter how small it was. I could not go without having something towards my name. Money, food, etc. I had to hustle to have something. I realized that I never gave myself a chance to be getting any rest, not one day at all; so as the days went by I slowly believed that if I were to get rest, then I would automatically be blessed the following day. So, yes, sometimes it's better to have nothing sometimes!

DISCLAIMER: Submission published as received

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Should you wish to assist in the rehabilitation of former inmates and help put money into the pockets of those who have struggled to earn a living during and after incarceration, click HERE

This project in collaboration with Restore currently works with formerly incarcerated young men in the communities.

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