Convict gets 8 distinctions
BENJAMIN Baloyi has been behind bars for the last 10 years. Baloyi, 37, is serving a life sentence for murder at the Johannesburg Prison.
Today I am a fully fledged lawyer and I am so proud. I also believe that everything happens for a reason. Maybe I would not have achieved this dream had I not been in prison
Yesterday, he achieved his childhood dream of becoming a lawyer when he was conferred with an LLB degree at a graduation ceremony held at the Pretoria Correctional Centre.
Baloyi, from Limpopo, completed his degree with Unisa with eight distinctions. He told Sowetan that he dropped out of school when he was in grade 11 at Tabodi High School.
He dropped out for "no particular reason but pure mischief" and decided to become a taxi driver. This is the occupation that "landed me behind bars".
"Today I am a fully fledged lawyer and I am so proud. I also believe that everything happens for a reason. Maybe I would not have achieved this dream had I not been in prison," he said.
Sadly, Baloyi did not have any family member present at the ceremony to share the joy of his achievement.
Joseng
I wonder what will happen, get freed or represent other convicts in jail, what do you think guys??Report Abuse
Nescafe
What the F**k, a criminal gets the opportunity to go to vasity and get a degree, who knows who he murdered to get a life sentence. why these criminals have rights anyway?Report Abuse
SQUATY
Jou sh*t!!You killed our people and now you are proud that everything happens for a reason.Democrazy in this country is just a mockery,you kill people and after you are rewarded with bursaryReport Abuse
Tsinki
Damn criminals get education,,,and decent people with distinctions cant even afford to go to varsity or even get bursary.Manyala kaofel aa nxaReport Abuse
Sboro
Without takiing away from him, I hope it won't send an unintended message out there that one needs to commit a crime, get arrested and sent to prison, and thereafter receive free access to education over good citizens.Report Abuse
Noxy
His achievements are very hard to celebrate. the family who lost a loved one are probably still in agony, as that never ends when you lose a loved one. i don't like how he is comparing 8 distinctions with the life of a human being though, saying how he wouldn't have acheived this....had he not gone to prison. Why don't we all kill people so we can become lawyers then?? (sic)but....God be the judge and not Noxy.
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Matodzi
Well done to him for doing something very positive with his life....Report Abuse
DRU
We don't know if he killed that particulr person in defence or what,remember ppl this Guy was a taxi driver & u know the life in that industry is ruthless.Taxi ppl are killing each other like house flies,let's not judge this man. I want to congratulate u,Mr Baloyi,this shows u didn't join those cruel gangs(28,26,etc) in prison & I'm pleased to see that u changed to be a better person,u deserve a second chance.Report Abuse
Pabi
He is a qualified lawyer but question is ,where he is going to practice? as he has life sentence. Am asking myself did he kill on purpose or because he was a taxi driver he was involve in an accident. I dont think he will enjoy the fruit of being a lawyer.Report Abuse
Tuza
Congratulations to all graduates,you have done yourselves and your families proud, you took a decision to enrich your lives instead of geyting involved in prison gangs.Education provides prisoners the opportunity to repent and the opportunity to become good citizens.Remember it takes only one bad decision to be locked up in prison. I have seen a lot of these cases on the programmes on the Crime and Investigation ChannelReport Abuse