Rashied Staggie spent another day in his cell as prison officials considered job offers made to the former gang leader.
|||Cape Town - Former gang boss Rashied Staggie has not yet made the move from criminal to janitor.
Despite widespread reports that the former Hard Livings gang leader had started his new career on Thursday, the Department of Correctional Services said Staggie spent another day in his cell.
And he might have to stay there until at least Monday, while the department considers various job offers.
It has been four days since the gangster was released on day parole from Pollsmoor Prison, after being moved to the facility from the Brandvlei Correctional Centre in Worcester.
But Staggie had only been outside for two hours during that time when his first and only day out was cut short due to an absence of job offers.
Staggie has served 10 years of a 15-year sentence for ordering the gang rape of a 17-year-old girl and later for a string of robberies.
However, he was granted day parole on May 21 in front of a board in Worcester.
The parole conditions require Staggie to have a job, and he will only be allowed to leave during the day to work before returning to the Tokai facility at night.
Until now, job offers have been few and far between.
On Wednesday, gangster-turned pastor Ivan Waldeck said he had sent a job offer to the department for Staggie to work as a cleaner at his firm, Ukonwaba Investments.
Waldeck’s previous offer had been for Staggie to work as a motivational speaker, but that was scrapped after the department said it was not a suitable “6am-to-6pm” job.
Waldeck said Staggie was meant to begin working on Thursday.
However, Correctional Services deputy commissioner James Smalberger said this what not the case.
“There has been no formal process yet.”
The offer will first have to be reviewed and Staggie must also attend a job interview for the position.
“This is not going to happen this week. It is most likely he will be able to start working next week,” he said.
The department said on Thursday it would no longer be taking part in a “running commentary” on Staggie’s job hunt and would officially announce when Staggie found employment.
Staggie is currently being kept at the day parole facility at Pollsmoor Prison.
kieran.legg@inl.co.za
Cape Argus