Prison Journalism: A house named Rainbow

Prison Journalism: A house named RainbowWesley 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

25-01-2024 15:59

in Prison Journalism

Prison. Image via unsplash

All of us have heard about a story about a pot of gold after the rainbow. In this article, it is a different story. I am about to take you on a journey into the very heart of a story about a house that was once very beautiful, and what has become of it this very day.

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A Place of Reform and Safety Rainbow House was a place where you would go to in time of need if you found yourself on the street, on drugs or whatever your situation presented. You were welcomed and offered assistance and help. I saw many change their situation around for the better.

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How the Walls Fell Down The house was under unclear management and over a period, there were incidents of mismanagement of funds and donations. One partner was slowly embezzling funds out and into his personal account, unaware that this was going on by the other in management. Until it was noticed, and the walls began to fall off.

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The Getaway and Damage Done When one of the main partners was confronted, he made a run from the management and the officials. He got away with a huge lump sum of funds, leaving the house vulnerable and open to all. The management tried to talk together but given that the person had a good heart, it was slowly abused, and the damage was done.

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The Beginning of the End As this went by, slowly this began to destroy the house by stripping all that was of value. Copper pipes, geysers, just to mention a few. Gangsters and thieves (that lived in the house) destroyed the property and made it into the state it is now, leaving the house without any lights, water, sanitation, or security.

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Upon Moving into the House I was living on the streets when I was offered a place to stay at the house. I have been living in that house for almost three months and this is my experience there. I lived in the lounge downstairs. It was a 7-bedroom house, double-story. Two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a lovely front and backyard. There were no lights and no water at all! I was grateful, nonetheless.

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What Happens Behind the Walls and Closed Doors If you had to walk past the house, behind it you would not be able to bring yourself to enter the house; it looked like a ghost house. When you enter, you would be welcomed by a gust of smoke and the disgusting smell of marijuana and tik. It would be dark, and you would bump into people or things you cannot see. You would be lucky if you do not get robbed or threatened by a gangster or thief. By the time money comes, you will see people bringing in rubbish that they collected, people buying smoking drugs, NOT A PRETTY SIGHT.

The Association of the House It does not matter if you are a person that means well and has no affiliation with those who do wrong. You are labelled in that light. The community will slander you, and you will be left with a dark cloud over you. Around the whole area, you will be known as a person that lives at the house and participates in the wrong things.

The Day I Departed I kept on housing my belongings in the house, and nobody ever saw or knew anything. I decided to rather leave with my head still intact. If I did not, I would have become one of them and find myself in a situation that would have landed me in prison or dead.

So basically, the story is that never let your surroundings determine your destiny no matter how hard it is; you need to change your situation to better your destiny. Your worth is a lot more than anything on this planet, or anything that the world can offer you materialistically.

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DISCLAIMER: Submission published as received

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

RESTORE is an NGO based in Cape Town, South Africa, providing inmates at Pollsmoor Prison with restorative justice opportunities.

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