Mlungisi Zondi (34) from Mamelodi but born and raised in KZN Esikhawini, was a member of a criminal gang and was sentenced to ten years in prison.
He has turned his life around and is now a motivational speaker, writer, and HIV and Aids activist. So far, the man has toured the country, stopping in provinces such as KZN, Mpumalanga, and Gauteng giving motivational talks.
Mr Zondi said “I coach young people, youth, and parents all over the country taking from my previous lifestyle. I was a member of a gang and I was sentenced to life in prison for armed robbery, but due to the hardships I was experiencing in prison, I was granted 10 years after appealing. I was violated twice in jail, and I attempted suicide twice but failed.
“I was a former drug addict who smoked heroin for seven years and lived on the streets for three years. My previous lifestyle has provided me with this wealth of experience as well as the necessary skills to motivate others.
Mr Zondi has launched and published his book “Life Behind Bars” in previous years, and he is currently working on two other books, “Life After Prison” and “I’m Living with HIV.”
His newly released book, “Life Behind Bars,” is available on Amazon.
He is now spending his days in clinics motivating HIV-positive people and also donating his time to deliver medication to people who refuse to pick up their prescriptions.
He said, “I was born to archive, I was born to conquer, I was born to Inspire and I was born to change.”
His work is beneficial to people, and he enjoys sharing his knowledge by inspiring others to do the right thing. He said he is willing to share his motivational speeches with any radio station around Pretoria.