It won south africas premier nonfiction literary award, the sunday times alan paton award. A journey to the heart of africa full documentary bbc africa. Powerful photos of the number prison gangs in south africa. One mans search for identity in the cape underworld and prison gangs, a 2004 book exploring prison life in south africa before.
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. Mar, 2018 the number gangs that rule south africas prisons are notoriously ruthless and secretive. Meaning and purpose in the occupations of ganginvolved young. This collection of photographs documenting various members of south africa s numbers prison gangs after being released from incarceration is a. One mans search for identity in the cape underworld and prison gangs is a non fiction book written by jonny steinberg about south africas. 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. Numbers gang south africa prison documentary youtube. 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. Fighting the gangs of south africas western cape world. The sabela consists of the words, symbols and colors that differentiate one from another. These include older gangs such as the americans, hard livings and mongrels. There are approximately gangs operating in cape town with membership estimated at around 100 000 individuals 1.
There are more than 100 000 gang members in 7 gangs in the cape peninsula. Most emigrants from south africa state that crime was a big factor in their decision to leave. 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. Nongolozas story was documented in a van onselen book called. 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. 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. The complex codes of the numbers gang specify how the gangs should. In 20, 12% of the 2,580 murders in the province were gang related second behind arguments turned violent, according to the south. The organisation has carved out, through blood and violence, a unique niche in the countrys psyche. Meaning and purpose in the occupations of ganginvolved. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Across the world millions of people are members of street gangs.
The history of the numbers gang and its mesh within both the prisons and. 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. 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. In them she saw marks made with directness a bluntness even.
It happened in 1886 and it traces the journey into a life of crime of mzuzepi mathebula, who. If you want to join the gang you must show that youre a skelm thief. Gangs in this context mean an organised group of criminals that are involved in violence. 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. On the 21t of march 1960 a pan africanist congress led antipassbook protest was held in langa. On gangs south africa cape town numbers gang youtube. The xxvi are associated with cunning, money and obtaining other goods by theft and fraud.
This book explores these secret underworld organizations to discover who they are, what makes them tick and what the law is. 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. John w fredericks was arrested for robbery and sentenced to two years in pollsmoor prison when he was 17. How rape became south africas enduring nightmare world. 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. 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. It is at this prison, that the numbers gang are thriving and are at its highest population.
The new company, known as random house struik pty ltd, brought together two of the countrys most prominent book publishers under the. There are more than 100 000 gang members gangsters in about 7 gangs in cape peninsula. Thanks to shaneez amien for her input on the westbury gangs. May 29, 2014 gang violence is rife in south africa s western cape. Also, it gives a great description of wentzels role in the 28s. Homeless, poor and young people in south africa are suffering from crime and sickness. This is pretty much africa outside of prison as well, except they cant count as high. 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. In 20, 12% of the 2,580 murders in the province were gang related second behind arguments turned violent, according to the south african. 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. But in a remarkable experiment, some of the worlds most violent men are starting to rediscover their humanity.
One mans search for identity in the cape underworld and 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. There are currently more than 12 000 juvenile prisoners in the country, many of them serious violent offenders. Gangs by kemp, ross penguin random house south africa. The number thus recounts steinbergs and magadiens journey into the latters past p. Like the hard livings gang, many smaller gangs throughout the cape flats owe allegiance to it. 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. To me, it gives a great insight to how the townships of south africa became what. Jan 01, 2004 the difference with the number is that its an indepth examination of the prison gangs and the mythology surrounding their beginnings. Increased gang crime in south africa sociology essay. The reason for recruiting children as gang members is because if they commit crimes, they are unlikely to go.
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. Numbers is the oldest, the bigest and most brutal gang in prisons of south african republic. This article forms part of the special collection on doing urban public theology in south africa. The choice of explicit number identifications by the numbers gang is also critical. 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. The age of gang members ranges between 11 and 40 years. The number gangs are notorious, powerful prison gangs in south africa identified as 26 s, 27s or 28s17. Skys special correspondent alex crawford meets a gang member who makes a living killing people, as shrien dewani is cleared of hiring hitmen to. Gangs deliver food in poor cape town area amid lockdown. The general, who is the leader of the notorious numbers gang, said. However, it came at a price, as once one is initiated into. Township lessons from the cape of good hope gangs, race and poverty 20 years after apartheid doc duration. 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. The americans gang is a large street gang and organized crime group based in cape flats area of cape town.
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. 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. Groundglass latest production, numbers, provides a visually striking and previously unseen insight into the unique and violent gang culture of south africa s prisons. In groups they fight, rob, rape and murder anyone who isnt one of their own. 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. The number gangs in south african prisons english, afrikaans, xhosa and. Meet the 28s general who left the number and lived to t. It attempts to describe popular assumptions regarding these terms in south africa and in doing so it explores contested definitions, explanations and policy debates. The difference with the number is that its an indepth examination of the prison gangs and the mythology surrounding their beginnings. Jul 27, 2010 in south africa, increasing numbers of young people are being sent to prison. Some of these gangs include the spoilt brats, dollar kids, young americans, and dixie boys. 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. 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.
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. It is a tale of modern south africas historic events seen through the eyes of the. If you ever find yourself in a south african prison the three speeds of gangs are thusly organized. Groundglass latest production, numbers, provides a visually striking and previously unseen insight into the unique and violent gang culture of south africas prisons. 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. View entire discussion 22 comments more posts from the videos community. 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. 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.
The south african gang 26 s are responsible for getting cash. Gods gangsters the number gangs in south african prisons english, afrikaans, xhosa and zulu edition xhosa paperback. 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. This guy went from a 28 gang general to starring alongside. 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. Gang violence is rife in south africa s western cape. The most popular website dedicated to books on urban culture.
There are countless books on the topic of gangs, hip hop, prisons, and the ghetto, but streetgangs. Pollsmoor prison is located in cape town south africa, the southern tip of the african continent. The number gangs in south african prisons english, afrikaans, xhosa and zulu. Secrets of prison numbers gangs news that connects south. 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. Most of all, the book is an account of memory and identity, of wentzels project to. 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. A string of aliases is just one of several facets to the personality of the man who shapes the book. Recently released statistics from the south african police service saps and statistics south africa ssa saw a slight decline of 1. 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. Like all jonny steinberg books, this ones essential reading for anyone interested in south africa. 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.
May 25, 2015 on gangs south africa cape town numbers gang. Stories from a south african childhood by trevor noah, waiting for the barbarians by. Manuela was drawn to the marks of south africas number gangs by their raw power. 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 numbers gang in south africa is a very secretive gang and very understudied. This section of the website will discuss the various concepts of the sabela in relation to the numbers gang.
In youth, street culture and urban violence in africa, proceedings of the international symposium held in abidjan, ivory coast, pp. 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. A must read for every resident of the western cape in south africa, and for anyone. There, the number gangs vied to initiate him into their ranks, but he resisted their. The collection is the result of the project urban public theology, which was. Steinberg spent 18 months with wentzel, in and out of prison, and skillfully crafts the story of his shattered life into a whole narrative. 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. South african prisoners threaten to kill oscar pistorius metro. 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 number gangs that rule south africa s prisons are notoriously ruthless and secretive.
The book follows magadien wentzel, a member of the feared 28s who is eventually released but struggles to place himself in the world outside. When planning a visit to a new country, the first thing you are likely to do is to buy a guidebook on the place. It is the most violent prison in south africa and has the highest number of prison gangs. 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. Welcome to street gangs book club, a centralized place to gain information on books that discuss urban culture, specifically gangs. It is the largest of the street gangs in cape town. The book follows magadien wentzel, a member of the feared 28s who is eventually released but struggles to. 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. These gangs are well over a century old and extend from south africa to the united states. Gang rape and the culture of violence in south africa there are many ways that gangs control hole neighborhoods in south africa. 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.
Before the mid 1990s, south africa did not have a problem with organised crime. Thus it is of great importance to try obtain as much information on them as possible. But most of all, it resulted in the birth and growth of prisons number gangs throughout south africa. This gives the impression that the criminal justice system is completely unable to deal with the growing problem of youth involvement in crime. 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. Sa kids struggle with literacy 06 december 2017 07. The sabela is something which is unique to the numbers gang in south africa. 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. The book gives a great description of the numbers gangs, the 26s, 27s and 28s. Visions, approaches, themes and practices towards a new agenda in hts teologiese studiestheological studies 1 volume 70, issue 3, 2014. 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.
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