27 Nov 2014

It took an aggregate of nine years in jail between Mr Balebaleng Molaodi and Mr Modisaemang Thapelo to realise that crime does not pay. 

Upon their release, the duo was determined to turn their lives around and never to set their foot again in the penitentiary. 

The sounds of those heavy metal doors blended with the clacks of the chains of jail is still reverberating in the back of my mind and is a constant reminder that lawbreakers do not benefit from their actions, said   21 year old Mr Thapelo in an interview.

After being released from prison the two young men of Serowe ruled out sitting home and doing nothing as they wanted to make a living for themselves.

The due ventured into a furniture manufacturing business which  they named “Shakes and More Investment” which is located at sebina ward in Serowe.   Their business name came from their first names.  Shakes is Mr Thapelo’s nickname and “MO” is the first two letters for Molaodi. 

The duo said they wrote more so that it can be read and pronounced easily.  Mr Molaodi who is 31 years explained that determination to prove that they really have changed after jail led them to start their own business which specializes in manufacturing of furniture and repairing worn out furniture (upholstery).

From jail Mr Molaodi approached Thapelo to start their own business using the skills  they learned from prison.  They contacted a brethren from Bible Life Ministries, where they currently fellowship, and borrowed a chair covers sewing machine.

The first job they did was fixing a car seat, and they saved the proceeds from this work.  The duo went on to get part time jobs and with the money they got they bought themselves their own machinery.  “Determination drove us further, we went door to door, put fliers and distributed business cards to advertise our business” Mr Molaodi explained.

As the business expanded we moved to a slightly bigger place which was offered by another fellow church mate. “ while there , from the profits we made, we bought two more machines, business continued to grow and the place got smaller, we looked for a bigger place for our business and that is how we ended up here” Mr Thapelo explained.

He explained that they registered their company and were offered a trade license of manufacturing in February 2014. “I am proud of our achievement, we started this business from our own pockets, and it is doing very well” he said.

Like any other business Mr Thapelo said their business is experiencing  challenges. “Some people don’t pay us, we make them furniture and repair their stuff and after that they disappear into thin air with the money and that is a blow to our business “ Mr Molaodi said.

“The other problem we are faced with is employees who come and go, currently we have two employees, the rest we started with are gone” he continues. Nevertheless Mr  Molaodi explained that they are determined to turn their business into large scale production.

“People now trust us with their things; they really see we have changed, all our thanks go to God. He gave us a second chance and we are using it to the fullest.” Thapelo said. He explained that their dream is to own a school one day where they can teach others especially youths furniture making.

He said that sometimes they visit the prison to teach and inspire other prisoner’s. They also share with them the word of God. 

“God gave us talents and we should not bury them, we are a living testimony that life after prison is not the end, but just the beginning.  Each person determines his or her destination,” he said.

 Moreover they explained that though there are many competitors who offer the same products as them they try hard to differ themselves by offering lower prices since furniture shops add more profit.  He said customers can also choose the design of their choice and they fix the worn out furniture as a guarantee of their goods.

“We offer high quality standard of furniture and help people spare travelling expenses of looking for furniture at far way places” he concluded.  Mr Molaodi who spent five years eight months in jail after he was convicted for common theft and burglary said he turned to God because he wanted to lead a clean life.

Mindset change begins within an individual, he advised adding that a person has to first admit and accept that they were wrong and take advice from others in order to change.

I also want to highlight that prisons are meant to rehabilitate criminals and instill a sense of discipline in them as opposed to the common believe that they are meant for punishment. 

Asked if there was any chance of going back to jail, Mr Molaodi said “never, I am committed to serving Christ, not jail.” On the other hand, Mr Thapelo who was convicted for livestock theft and spent three years four months in jail said before he repented he used to steal neighbours goats. 

I worked as a herdsman and I was still young, but as you know when you grow up you have so many wishes, I wanted to own my own livestock and get rich, he reminisces. I was naughty and ignored parent’s advice until I got caught and sentenced to imprisonment, he shared.

As for their contribution to the society they operate in, the duo said they have created jobs for the locals and they also visit prison on a regular basis to inspire inmates. ENDS