SIMON Mawela (39) doesn't want to hear a thing about the life of crime.
The ex-convict said life in prison is horrific. You can't even buy simple things like chewing gum, he says.
Simon from Block NN in Soshanguve, Tshwane told Daily Sun he was a car thief, which led him to spend two years at the Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Services on trial between 2010 until 2012.
Simon said he regrets stealing people's cars and living a life of crime due to peer pressure.
He said he grew up struggling. According to Simon, he would wear old clothes while his peers in his kasi looked smart every day.
Simon said he was introduced to the life of crime by friends and didn't think twice before he joined them in his quest to look smart.
They stole cars, mostly in the Pretoria CBD and Soshanguve.
"We would sell a stolen car for R8 000 or R10 000. We never hurt anyone. We were stealing cars, not hijacking them. We never carried guns or dangerous weapons, only tools to steal a car," he said.
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Simon said this was a means for survival, but for the victims it was painful and heartbreaking.
He said his mum died in 2006 and his dad in 2008.
"Life became difficult because I was not getting what I wanted. I joined a group of bad friends and started stealing cars."
Simon said he started stealing cars when he was in matric. Sometimes, he would steal a car alone.
"I'm clean now. Stealing is evil. It also doesn't pay," he said.
After his release from prison, Simon became a taxi driver. Today, he's a proud owner of his taxi and no longer sleeps with one eye open.
He told Daily Sun unlike when he was a car thief, he no longer panics whenever he heard sirens or the sound of a helicopter.
The ex-convict said in February he started his own fashion label, Skhanda Clothing, and wants it to grow.
"I love fashion and being smart, so I decided to create my own fashion brand," Simon said.
His friend, Bongani Mthombeni (30) said: "Simon is a changed man. He works hard to become successful in his business."
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