The father of a 25-year man who managed to get four distinctions in matric while in jail says he is proud of the man his son he is becoming. Durban based businessman penned a moving letter to his son Sandile (25) who is currently serving time at the Westville Correctional Prison in Durban, KwaZulu Natal (KZN) after he passed his matric with flying colours. 

Sandile Nzama who is serving 25-years became one of the top achievers at the centre. Sandile and his friends were convicted for the murder a 67-year-old teacher he claimed sexually abused him since he was 14-years-old. Sandile was sentenced to 25 years behind bars when he was only 19 years old. Speaking to ZiMoja about his son's achievement, Nick Nzama who is a founder of the Boys2Men Programme, which trains boys to become better leaders in the future said that Sandile's story must be a lesson for anyone with a boy child. "Most of us ignore the abuse and pain that boys go through until it's too late, they are either jailed or become drug addicts in the streets. Listen to your child properly, make sure you are the first person they can run to if they face challenges in life. Watch out for them as much as you do with girls. Lots of men were raped as young boys by an older person as their first sexual experience, it's just that men mask it," he said.

Nzama also thanked the Westville Correctional facility officials especially Usethubeni Youth Centre teachers for ensuring that Sandile is learning whilst serving his sentence. "Mfana wami (my boy) Sandile ngiyabonga (thank you) for choosing to study whilst you are in there. I may not be proud of what got you there, but I am proud of the man you are becoming. Four distinctions are way beyond my expectations. Well done. May God walk with you on your rehabilitation journey. I honestly wish I had done more to guide you as a young man so much pain and misery could have been avoided. Ngabe ukude nempilo manje (You could be far in life), this your journey," Nzama said in a moving letter.