Prison Journalism: Religion in Prison

Pollsmoor has statutory protections on religious worship, allowing offenders to freely worship, and religious affiliations range from Christianity to African traditional religion, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, and Rastafarianism.

Religious Diversity among Inmates 

When I was in prison, I remember we were mixed; some were Christians, some were Muslims, but it was very rare to find a black inmate who was Muslim, unless he was a foreigner, usually from Tanzania or Nigeria. Soon after the beginning of the year, around March, the Muslims would start to fast, celebrating Ramadan. They were usually put in their own cell where they would pray, and their breakfast, lunch, and meals would differ from other inmates who are Christians or non-religious. But that doesn’t mean there were no gang members who were Muslims; they were there, and the gang rituals would be practiced even if they were fasting and praying.

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Rastafarians in Prison

There were also very few Rastafarians who were keeping their hair and never shaving them; mostly these were blacks and very few coloured. Rastafarians in Pollsmoor were a little bit respected; even the gang members were respecting Rastas. These ones were mainly specializing in the distribution of weed (marijuana) in prison; that’s why they were respected. I noticed that Rastas were vegetarians; obviously, their meals were different from other inmates. They were given usually vegetables and fruits.

Outside Religious Services and Community Support

Every Sunday, people from outside came to pray and do Sunday services with inmates. They encouraged inmates to repent and leave their old ways. This helped inmates to engage in religious study groups and counselling sessions, offering them a supportive community and a chance to reflect on their actions. Inmates who engage in religious activities often experience a sense of hope and redemption, which can be instrumental in their successful reintegration into society. I noticed that participation in religious programs is associated with lower recidivism rates and promotes long-term behavioural change in their lives.

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Hope through the Bible

When I was in prison, Bibles were given in prison cells; members would visit to support Sunday morning services, conduct studies, and help in many other ways. However, not all inmates agreed to this. I have seen other inmates using the pages of the Bible to roll their blunts, and they didn’t care about church and these religious programs. But there is this verse a certain pastor told us when I was in prison: Jesus said that God “has sent me to proclaim release to the captives” (Luke 4:18), and he read a passage from Isaiah 61:1, which records that the Spirit of God had anointed his servant “to proclaim liberty to the captives, and opening of the prison to those who are bound.” These verses I always remember, and they gave me hope when I was in prison, as I thought being in prison was the end of everything for me in my life.

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DISCLAIMER: Submission published as received

RESTORE is an NGO based in Cape Town, South Africa, providing inmates at Pollsmoor Prison with restorative justice opportunities.

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