One mans search for identity in the cape underworld and prison. There are approximately gangs operating in cape town with membership estimated at around 100 000 individuals 1. This guy went from a 28 gang general to starring alongside. It happened in 1886 and it traces the journey into a life of crime of mzuzepi mathebula, who. To me, it gives a great insight to how the townships of south africa became what. Following the huge critical success of midlands and the number, threeletter plague has already received great acclaim in the united states where it was released as sizwes test. There are currently more than 12 000 juvenile prisoners in the country, many of them serious violent offenders. There are countless books on the topic of gangs, hip hop, prisons, and the ghetto, but streetgangs. As is described in chapter two, the dominant conceptualisation of organised crime and gangs in south africa conforms to an orthodox interpretation that has its origins in the united states. But in a remarkable experiment, some of the worlds most violent men are starting to rediscover their humanity. A must read for every resident of the western cape in south africa, and for anyone. The sabela consists of the words, symbols and colors that differentiate one from another. Secrets of prison numbers gangs news that connects south. Mar 14, 2018 if you want to understand the numbers gangs in south africa, you should start by reading jonny steinbergs the number one man who doesnt have to bother with that is welcome witbooi, who rose through the ranks to become the highest ranking general in the 28s.
Sep 06, 2012 jail is the worst place ever and if you go to prison for a long time your best bet is probably to join a gang. It attempts to describe popular assumptions regarding these terms in south africa and in doing so it explores contested definitions, explanations and policy debates. Mar 28, 2016 cape town, south africas gang capital, is pinnocks adopted city, and hes spent the last 30odd years as an investigative journalist and criminologist getting to know some of the areas. The history of the numbers gang and its mesh within both the prisons and. The americans gang is a large street gang and organized crime group based in cape flats area of cape town. How rape became south africas enduring nightmare world. In august 2008 random house south africa and struik publishers announced their merger to create a significant new player in the african book publishing industry. Commissioned by sailor jerrys for a two month residency at londons sanctum soho hotel, the secrets of the gangs known as the 26s, 27s and 28s are revealed through. It explains their history and the relationships between the three gangs as well as their relationships with the warders of the prisons throughout south africa. These gangs are well over a century old and extend from south africa to the united states. Manuela was drawn to the marks of south africas number gangs by their raw power. Her the number project comprises a film that documents the history, personal journeys, codes and body markings of south africa s the number prison gangs, prints, a book and a series of handstitched photographs manuela was drawn to the marks of south africa s number gangs by their raw power.
In youth, street culture and urban violence in africa, proceedings of the international symposium held in abidjan, ivory coast, pp. Groundglass latest production, numbers, provides a visually striking and previously unseen insight into the unique and violent gang culture of south africas prisons. Among the things we have learned is that the socalled number gangsthe 26s, 27s and 28sare about 100 years old, that they originated in the jails, mine compounds and informal settlements of turnofthe. It is at this prison, that the numbers gang are thriving and are at its highest population. The numbers gang in south africa is a very secretive gang and very understudied. One mans search for identity in the cape underworld and prison gangs is a non fiction book written by jonny steinberg about south africas. They are known to operate primarily in the western cape prison of pollsmoor, however it is believed that they are present in most south african prisons. Gangs deliver food in poor cape town area amid lockdown. Gangs by kemp, ross penguin random house south africa. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. It is the most violent prison in south africa and has the highest number of prison gangs. The number gangs in south african prisons english, afrikaans, xhosa and. Gangs in this context mean an organised group of criminals that are involved in violence.
Among the things we have learned is that the socalled number gangs the 26s, 27s and 28sare about 100 years old, that they originated in the jails, mine compounds and informal settlements of turnofthe. This section of the website will discuss the various concepts of the sabela in relation to the numbers gang. The number gangs that rule south africa s prisons are notoriously ruthless and secretive. There are more than 100 000 gang members in 7 gangs in the cape peninsula. Jonny steinbergs groundbreaking work of reportage about pride and shame, sex and death, and the aids pandemic in africa is a masterpiece of social observation.
The reason for recruiting children as gang members is because if they commit crimes, they are unlikely to go. Skys special correspondent alex crawford meets a gang member who makes a living killing people, as shrien dewani is cleared of hiring hitmen to. Across the world millions of people are members of street gangs. The complex codes of the numbers gang specify how the gangs should.
Thomas, who allegedly heads the 28s gang, considered the most violent of the prison numbers gangs, is facing 160 charges along with 18 others in a trial that has been marked by 12 murders since. Steinberg spent 18 months with wentzel, in and out of prison, and skillfully crafts the story of his shattered life into a whole narrative. John w fredericks was arrested for robbery and sentenced to two years in pollsmoor prison when he was 17. This book explores these secret underworld organizations to discover who they are, what makes them tick and what the law is. This book explores these secret underworld organizations to discover who they are, what makes them tick and what the law is doing to curb their criminal activity. One mans search for identity in the cape underworld and prison gangs, a 2004 book exploring prison life in south africa before. The south african gang 26 s are responsible for getting cash. Fighting the gangs of south africas western cape world. On gangs south africa cape town numbers gang youtube. The book gives a great description of the numbers gangs, the 26s, 27s and 28s. One mans search for identity in the cape underworld and prison gangs is a non fiction book written by jonny steinberg about south africas criminal tradition of prison gangs. Cape town, south africa s gang capital, is pinnocks adopted city, and hes spent the last 30odd years as an investigative journalist and criminologist getting to know some of the areas.
Before the mid 1990s, south africa did not have a problem with organised crime. Meaning and purpose in the occupations of ganginvolved young. Thanks to shaneez amien for her input on the westbury gangs. Oct 17, 2014 one of the most dangerous prisoners in south africa has vowed to take out oscar pistorius is he is sent to prison. For more than 50 years, street gangs have been a defining part of life in the socalled coloured communities of the cape flats area of cape town, south africa. Pollsmoor prison is located in cape town south africa, the southern tip of the african continent. In 20, 12% of the 2,580 murders in the province were gang related second behind arguments turned violent, according to the south african. The difference with the number is that its an indepth examination of the prison gangs and the mythology surrounding their beginnings. Over the past two decades, news of the strange world behind the bars of south africa s prisons has been spilling out in dribs and drabs. Thus it is of great importance to try obtain as much information on them as possible. If you ever find yourself in a south african prison the three speeds of gangs are thusly organized.
Increased gang crime in south africa sociology essay. In groups they fight, rob, rape and murder anyone who isnt one of their own. It is the largest of the street gangs in cape town. This is pretty much africa outside of prison as well, except they cant count as high. There are more than 100 000 gang members gangsters in about 7 gangs in cape peninsula.
These include older gangs such as the americans, hard livings and mongrels. Like the hard livings gang, many smaller gangs throughout the cape flats owe allegiance to it. Her the number project comprises a film that documents the history, personal journeys, codes and body markings of south africas the number prison gangs, prints, a book and a series of handstitched photographs. It won south africas premier nonfiction literary award, the sunday times alan paton award. If you want to join the gang you must show that youre a skelm thief. The number thus recounts steinbergs and magadiens journey into the latters past p. The organisation has carved out, through blood and violence, a unique niche in the countrys psyche. The book follows magadien wentzel, a member of the feared 28s who is eventually released but struggles to place himself in the world outside. Homeless, poor and young people in south africa are suffering from crime and sickness.
South african journal of occupational therapy volume 46, number 1, april 2016 sa ournal of occupational therapy 53 introduction gang involvement negatively influences the lives of many young men living in cape town, south africa. Powerful photos of the number prison gangs in south africa. Although many gangs are likely to work in and around cape town and the surrounding areas, the numbers gangs, or the 26s, 27s, and 28s are strong presence. The new company, known as random house struik pty ltd, brought together two of the countrys most prominent book publishers under the. The collection is the result of the project urban public theology, which was. In the 1950s there was a shift toward national liberation in south africa, with strong focus on the pass laws and the inhumane way in which in controlled people. May 25, 2015 on gangs south africa cape town numbers gang. Both of these dimensions are captured through the story of a prisoner widely known under the false name of william steenkamp name in a stolen id book p. The age of gang members ranges between 11 and 40 years. In them she saw marks made with directness a bluntness even. Groundglass latest production, numbers, provides a visually striking and previously unseen insight into the unique and violent gang culture of south africa s prisons. Meaning and purpose in the occupations of ganginvolved.
May 29, 2014 gang violence is rife in south africa s western cape. A string of aliases is just one of several facets to the personality of the man who shapes the book. There, the number gangs vied to initiate him into their ranks, but he resisted their. Numbers gang south africa prison documentary youtube. Most emigrants from south africa state that crime was a big factor in their decision to leave. Meet the 28s general who left the number and lived to t.
On the 21t of march 1960 a pan africanist congress led antipassbook protest was held in langa. Most of all, the book is an account of memory and identity, of wentzels project to. South african prisoners threaten to kill oscar pistorius metro. The xxvi are associated with cunning, money and obtaining other goods by theft and fraud. Score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Over the past two decades, news of the strange world behind the bars of south africas prisons has been spilling out in dribs and drabs. Recently released statistics from the south african police service saps and statistics south africa ssa saw a slight decline of 1. May 23, 2012 this collection of photographs documenting various members of south africa s numbers prison gangs after being released from incarceration is a striking look at the harsh times these men have.
The numbers gang or the numbers gangs and associated with different numbers in different prisons is a prison gang with one of the most fearsome reputations in south africa. If i didnt join a gang id have been raped 16yearold ivor swartz knew his only choice for survival was to join one of the brutal prison gangs. Sa kids struggle with literacy 06 december 2017 07. The book follows magadien wentzel, a member of the feared 28s who is eventually released but struggles to. Beheadings, gang rapes, drug dealing, rumours of cannibalization and a complete disregard for the law are hallmarks of south africas most notorious criminal gang the number. Gods gangsters the number gangs in south african prisons english, afrikaans, xhosa and zulu edition xhosa paperback. Welcome to street gangs book club, a centralized place to gain information on books that discuss urban culture, specifically gangs. Township lessons from the cape of good hope gangs, race and poverty 20 years after apartheid doc duration. Jul 27, 2010 in south africa, increasing numbers of young people are being sent to prison. Gods gangsters the number gangs in south african prisons. Around 57 people are murdered in south africa every day. For the reader who has not grown up in a black or coloured neighbourhood somewhere in south africa and has never heard terms like ndota old gangster. Sep 29, 2015 how rape became south africa s enduring nightmare this article is more than 4 years old new crime statistics show a slight drop in sexual offences but experts say true figures are much higher. Very little research is available on the numbers gang and this website aims to break the cycle and create an interest in the research of the numbers gang.
Nongolozas story was documented in a van onselen book called. Gang violence is rife in south africa s western cape. This gives the impression that the criminal justice system is completely unable to deal with the growing problem of youth involvement in crime. The sabela is something which is unique to the numbers gang in south africa. Mar, 2018 the number gangs that rule south africas prisons are notoriously ruthless and secretive. Stories from a south african childhood by trevor noah, waiting for the barbarians by. In the history of blood, the third in a series of crime fiction novels set in south africa, it is young, white south african women who are being groomed and sent from cape town to bangkok. This collection of photographs documenting various members of south africa s numbers prison gangs after being released from incarceration is a. Gang rape and the culture of violence in south africa there are many ways that gangs control hole neighborhoods in south africa. The most popular website dedicated to books on urban culture. This article forms part of the special collection on doing urban public theology in south africa. The number gangs in south african prisons english, afrikaans, xhosa and zulu edition xhosa paperback see all formats and editions hide other formats and editions price. Visions, approaches, themes and practices towards a new agenda in hts teologiese studiestheological studies 1 volume 70, issue 3, 2014. Numbers is the oldest, the bigest and most brutal gang in prisons of south african republic.
It is a tale of modern south africas historic events seen through the eyes of the. Beheadings, gang rapes, drug dealing, rumours of cannibalization and a complete disregard for the law are hallmarks of south africa s most notorious criminal gang the number. The choice of explicit number identifications by the numbers gang is also critical. The number tells the story of reformed gangster, magadien wentzel, who was high up in the 28s, one of south africas most notorious prison gangs. Gangster state is an unflinching examination of the ancs top leadership in the postjacob zuma era, one that should lead readers to a disconcerting conclusion. However, it came at a price, as once one is initiated into. The number gangs are notorious, powerful prison gangs in south africa identified as 26 s, 27s or 28s17. Wayne asserted that belonging to a gang was a choice that was in his best interest, as the gang could offer him resources and protection. The general, who is the leader of the notorious numbers gang, said. Jan 01, 2004 the difference with the number is that its an indepth examination of the prison gangs and the mythology surrounding their beginnings.
Also, it gives a great description of wentzels role in the 28s. William steenkamp, a highranking member of the 28s gang. But for those in the know, the motifs offer a rare glimpse into the inner workings of the number, a south african prison gang with a violently. If you want to understand the numbers gangs in south africa, you should start by reading jonny steinbergs the number one man who doesnt have to bother with that is welcome witbooi, who rose through the ranks to become the highest ranking general in the 28s. A journey to the heart of africa full documentary bbc africa. Some of these gangs include the spoilt brats, dollar kids, young americans, and dixie boys. Jail is the worst place ever and if you go to prison for a long time your best bet is probably to join a gang. In 20, 12% of the 2,580 murders in the province were gang related second behind arguments turned violent, according to the south. View entire discussion 22 comments more posts from the videos community. When planning a visit to a new country, the first thing you are likely to do is to buy a guidebook on the place. The number gangs in south african prisons english, afrikaans, xhosa and zulu. But most of all, it resulted in the birth and growth of prisons number gangs throughout south africa. Jul 04, 2017 the numbers gang or the numbers gangs and associated with different numbers in different prisons is a prison gang with one of the most fearsome reputations in south africa.