Sipho* went from being one of the most hardened criminals in Cape Town to driving The Soft Machine, a gourmet ice-cream truck.He is part of Gangstar Enterprises, a company officially launched yesterday that provides employment opportunities to former offenders who have graduated through a programme run by the Message Trust, a Christian charity.The enterprise runs three businesses: The Soft Machine; Gangstar Furniture, which makes creative merchandise using discarded wood; and clothing outfit Gangstar Gear.As a teenager in Guguletu, Sipho envied neighbourhood gangsters because of their flashy cars and fancy clothes."I somehow looked up to these guys. I started hanging around these guys. I started stealing cars just for entertainment," he said.He ended up in prison and when he was released five years later he graduated to cash-in-transit heists."I attained recognition, gained popularity."In 2002, he and his friends were nabbed after attempting a heist.He did his time in Pollsmoor."I was regarded as a high-profile criminal. I joined the 26s gang because there was no way out. I thought to myself that it was better to die."But his thinking changed when he met a pastor in prison and when Sipho was released he felt he was a "changed man" because he had found God."But I couldn't get any job. Once the question comes, 'do you have a criminal record?' then I knew it is going to be a big no."Now I am giving back. I mentor young men who were in prison just like myself."..