THE family of a convict, who had lived in a mud structure and slept on grass mattresses and chicken feather pillows, were given a brand new home by Correctional Services this week.
Mhlangabezi Bokolo was released on parole in 2010 after serving eight of his 15-year jail sentence handed down in 2003.
He was found guilty of rape in Gauteng but served his sentence in Mthatha.
Head of community corrections in Mthatha, Noxolisa Mpunzi, said when they visited the parolee at his rural home in Engweni near Mthatha in 2010, they were moved when they saw eight members of the Bokolo family living in the dilapidated mud structure.
Mpunzi said during the visit Bokolo's father was sleeping on a mattress made of grass while his pillow was made of chicken feather. The whole family slept in the rondavel.
That same year Bokolo's father died and correctional services decided to build a two-roomed house to help the family and to honour the father.
Businessmen around Mthatha helped by providing building material and construction started at the end of 2010.
Convicts still serving their prison sentence was roped in to help build the house, which was officially handed over this week.
"I am very touched by what community correction did for my family. I know my father would have loved this," Bokolo said.
Community correction has also helped Bokolo get a public driving permit , which he hopes will help him find a job with a delivery company.
His sister, Maria, who lives in Baziya, said the whole family would be able to sleep in the new rooms now.
"Whenever I visited home we would all sleep in that small rondavel but now the whole family is very happy about this place we got in our father's honour."
Mohammed Saleem of Siyanda Hardware said it was an honour for the company to be part of an initiative to help a needy family.
"Seeing the smiles on the family's faces was the best thing for us, knowing that we have made a difference," said Saleem.