Prison Journalism: Gang operations in South African prisons

Warning: This article features content which readers may find disturbing

The whole of South Africa shows varying numbers in gang members. In the Western Province, there are only three numbers. In the Eastern Cape, there are five numbers: 26, 27, and 28, along with the 35s and the 5s. I was in Kimberley with the 35s, whose task is to stab the wardens. The 5s’ role is to escape from prison and return with knives, drugs, weed, and everything else. So, the 5s are brothers to us. The 28s work well for us, but one must know that one will never leave prison. The 5s are high-risk; they engage in rape, hijacking, murder, and so on. However, one must remember they are our enemies.

Prison Dynamics and Conflicts

The 35s’ job is to stab the warden officers, and the 5s, liking the wardens too much, must protect the officers because the officers allow them to go to the “Kassie” townships to get everything with the officers’ payment cash. These two camps can start a fight, turning the prison upside down. In the chaos, prisoners fight against each other, and one must know how volatile a prison can become. When chaos ensues, the captain summons the police, army, and wardens, and together they combat fiercely. The prison then comes to a standstill. The prisoners, living subdued, feel a compelling need to fight for their lives.

Personal Journey and Reflections

Three days after that fight, I was transferred to Voorberg. I had to get my black ass out of that prison. I didn’t come here to end up in Voorberg; I came to finish my sentence. I called my childhood friend “ma shoot,” whom I left in Voorberg, to tell him I was returning. My friend’s real name is Anton September. Now back in Voorberg, I believe we were about 60 men, all from the Western Cape. Voorberg is a prison on the farm known as Old MacDonald’s. I was just a standard guy when I came from Kimberley, the diamond mine city, a place of prosperity.

Upon arriving at my former club, I met with my brother Syia and the club’s owner. He was wealthy and remarked on our thin appearance, expressing surprise at our non-stop training. He insisted that we start eating well. We used to call him “the boss” and whenever he was near us, he would always ensure we had food, asking, “Are you hungry?”

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