Former nurse who spent 6 years in jail for a crime she did not commit writes letter to Cyril Ramaphosa

Nolitha Klaas, a 37-year-old woman from Mdantsane in East London, has penned a heartfelt letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa seeking intervention after spending nearly six years in prison for a crime she did not commit.

Klaas, who was released in January after her conviction and sentence were overturned by the high court, is now appealing for assistance in rebuilding her shattered life.

In her letter addressed to President Ramaphosa, Klaas expressed her plea for help in restoring her dignity and reclaiming her life, which was unjustly destroyed by the country’s justice system.

She highlighted the devastating impact of her wrongful imprisonment, emphasizing the toll it had taken on her family and her livelihood as the breadwinner.

Despite her release, Klaas continues to face challenges in rebuilding her life.

She shared her struggles with basic necessities such as food and the financial burden of renewing her nursing license, which she needs to resume her career as a nurse.

  “When I was released, I arrived home and there was no food.

  “That is the life my family has been subjected to as I was the breadwinner before the justice system ruined my life.

  “What happened has not only destroyed my life but my family’s life. My mother is now bedridden and her social grant is the only source of income my family has.

  “I am now living with friends because the RDP house we call home doesn’t have enough space to accommodate us all. There are six people living there.”

The aftermath of her incarceration has left her family in distress, with limited resources and living conditions that have added to their hardships.

Klaas’s attorney, Ntsikelelo Manyisane, revealed her intention to pursue legal action against the National Prosecuting Authority for wrongful conviction, seeking restitution for the injustice she endured.

While the exact details of the lawsuit were not disclosed, Manyisane affirmed Klaas’s determination to seek accountability for the miscarriage of justice she suffered.



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