It is absurd and heartbreaking to see a young man like Kabelo Thibedi going to jail for demanding that his rights be respected.

It is absurd and heartbreaking to see a young man like Kabelo Thibedi going to jail for demanding that his rights be respected.

After struggling to get his ID for two years, he now has to deal with the fact that he has a criminal record. Granted, it was wrong for him to hold Anel Small hostage, but do they really have to ruin his life by sending him to jail?

I totally do not agree with magistrate Van der Schyff, who presided in the case, when he said: "There were other avenues available to him to address his problems, but he chose not to take those avenues."

In January last year Thibedi chose to use one of those avenues by speaking to the manager, but nothing happened.

Again on November 29 last year he tried another avenue, but he was chased away.

What this gentleman went through was horrifying.

According to the magistrate the sentence should serve as a deterrent to Thibedi and would-be offenders.

My question is how many people are committing horrifying crimes every day, yet the judiciary claims to deter crime.

I am sorry Anel Small and her family had to go through such trauma and pray for her speedy recovery.

Donald Lefifi, Soshanguve