By Jensen Brian Abass Cummings
“You Can’t Be a Criminal and a Good Person at the Same Time” – Lessons from Marked and Reflections for Sierra Leone
In the critically acclaimed South African movie Marked, a powerful line stands out: “You can’t be a criminal and a good person at the same time.” This quote was delivered by actor Themba Ndaba, who plays a key role in the film. Themba’s character highlights the irreconcilable conflict between a life of crime and true goodness, underscoring that engaging in criminal acts fundamentally contradicts being a genuinely good person.
Why Themba Ndaba Said This
In interviews and discussions about Marked, Themba Ndaba explained that this quote reflects a harsh truth: crime, by definition, causes harm, breaks trust, and disrupts communities. To be a “good person” requires empathy, integrity, and respect for others — values that crime violates. Themba emphasized that the line serves as a moral anchor for viewers, encouraging self-reflection about personal choices and their consequences.
Relating the Quote to Everyday Life in Sierra Leone
Though Marked is South African, the message resonates strongly in Sierra Leone, a country with its own unique social challenges and aspirations. Here’s how the saying applies to multiple spheres of Sierra Leonean life:
- Political Sphere
Sierra Leone has struggled with corruption and governance issues, which have slowed development and eroded public trust. Politicians or officials who engage in bribery, embezzlement, or abuse of power cannot claim moral goodness. Themba’s quote reminds leaders and citizens alike that the pursuit of public service must be grounded in honesty and accountability — criminal acts destroy both individual integrity and national progress.
- Economic Sphere
Entrepreneurs and businesspeople are pillars of Sierra Leone’s growing economy. However, unethical practices like fraud, counterfeit goods, or tax evasion harm the business environment and hurt consumers. According to the quote, these criminal actions are incompatible with being “good” contributors to society. Real success in business comes from fairness, transparency, and respect for the rule of law.
- Community and Social Life
Crime, such as theft, violence, and drug trafficking, damages the social fabric of communities. For Sierra Leoneans, where community ties are vital, this quote underscores that engaging in crime undermines the very principles of neighborliness, trust, and solidarity that sustain communal life. Good citizenship means rejecting crime and working toward peaceful coexistence.
- Youth and Education
Young people in Sierra Leone face many challenges and temptations, including peer pressure toward criminal behavior. Themba Ndaba’s quote serves as a valuable lesson for youth to understand that true goodness — which earns respect and trust — cannot grow alongside criminal conduct. Educators, parents, and leaders can use this insight to inspire moral responsibility and positive life choices.
My Humble Take as a Sierra Leonean
As an ordinary Sierra Leonean, I find this quote striking in its simplicity and truth. It cuts through the excuses often made to justify wrongdoing. We often hear that crime is a means of survival or a way to get ahead, but this quote forces us to confront the reality that engaging in crime distances us from being good people who build rather than destroy.
In Sierra Leone’s context, embracing this truth means promoting integrity in all we do — from voting wisely to running honest businesses and nurturing peaceful families. It also means holding each other accountable and rejecting the normalization of crime as a part of life.
If we internalize Themba Ndaba’s message from Marked, we can contribute to transforming Sierra Leone into a society where goodness and justice prevail, and where crime is truly not tolerated — because one simply cannot be both a criminal and a good person at the same time.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on ednesday,13th August 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
