‘Crime does not pay’: Former Pollsmoor inmate urges Philippi youth to choose education

Former Pollsmoor inmate Laizo Hangana is using motivational talks and his Room50 podcast to warn young people about the consequences of gangsterism.

After spending a decade behind bars at Pollsmoor Prison, former gangster Laizo Hangana has turned his life around and is now dedicating his time to inspiring young people to break free from the cycle of crime and gangsterism.

Hangana, who grew up in Philippi, was just 24 years old when he was convicted of armed robbery, carjacking and attempted murder.

He was sentenced to 16 years, but served 10 years for good behaviour.  

Now 37, he is using his past experiences to warn young people about the consequences of criminal activity.

Reflecting on his experience, Hangana says the glamorous image of gangsterism hides a painful reality.

He says: “Young boys must stay away from crime because it does not pay. Focus on your books and education because that is the only way to build a better future.

His time behind bars also brought painful personal losses.

He said he lost his mother to lung problems on a morning when she was supposed to attend a court date during his trial, an experience that deeply affected him.

He also recalls how a former schoolmate, who represented him as a lawyer, became an important source of motivation and encouraged him to reconsider the direction of his life.

Hangana said: “I blamed myself for my mother's death and I knew that I needed to change my life around. And when my former classmate represented me as a lawyer, I asked myself how I became involved in crime. From that day, I decided to change my life around.”

Today, he is taking his message directly to young people through motivational talks, sharing the realities of prison life and the consequences of criminal choices.

He has also started his own podcast, Room50, where he opens up about his experiences behind bars, his past involvement in crime, and the lessons he learnt during his 10 years in prison.

Hangana says his transformation is a reminder that people can change and that a criminal past does not have to define the rest of one’s life.

Through his story, he hopes to reach young boys in communities such as Philippi before they become trapped in the cycle of crime.