FORMER prisoner Jomo Jaxa held his book launch at his former high school, Luvuyo Lerumo, on Friday.
The book, titled My Rebellious Road to Prison, outlines his destructive behaviour as a pupil and a badly behaved child at home, a pattern which eventually led to his incarceration.
He said he wants the govern-ment to use his book as a prescribed book in high schools.
“I believe today’s youth are facing the same problems I encountered and this book will help them make informed decisions,” Jaxa said.
He is also hoping to have the book translated into isiXhosa.
“When I launched the book at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, authors were encouraged to produce material written in Xhosa due to the shortage, as most people write in English.
“This makes it difficult to promote our mother tongue.”
He said his next project was to start a men’s youth forum.
“Most robbery and rape cases involve young men. Drugs are mostly consumed by men and old people are afraid to go into the streets at night. We want to find out what makes the youth commit these crimes. I want women to see that we acknowledge that we have a problem and that we want to bring our own solutions through this programme.
“We need government and municipalities to support Komani writers because we play a very important role in society in grooming the youth.”
Jaxa said he was pleased to have former Lukhanji executive mayor Nozi Makanda at the launch. Makanda had previously taught him geography.
Makanda said: “Jaxa was a brilliant pupil who failed because he neglected his studies. This is one of the most painful experiences a teacher can witness.”
She said she was proud of Jaxa for his achievements after his incarceration.
The book is available at Keens.
