Dean Mashimbwe, a Zimbabwean migrant residing in Cape Town, was incarcerated at Pollsmoor Correctional Centre from 2016 until 2017.
A prison gang is an inmate organization that operates within a prison system. It has a corporate structure and endures over time. Membership is exclusive, often requiring a lifelong commitment. The Numbers Gang, originally founded as a prison gang, boasts one of the most fearsome reputations in South Africa.
While they originated in KwaZulu-Natal, it is believed that they have a presence in most of South Africa. The Numbers Gang has its own parliament, economy, legal system, and system of punishment. But what holds immense significance in gang life is Sabela, the secret language used to identify a member.However, Sabela is one of the first things a newcomer must memorize, along with the “unwritten book” detailing the gang’s code of conduct.
Symbols, gestures, signs, and tattoos are also integral to the code, encompassing non-verbal communication through facial expressions and posture. For instance, each Numbers gang has its unique salute for greeting one another, with the 28-gang using a thumb, index, and middle finger for their salute, the 27-gang employing the thumb and index finger, and the 26-gang raising the thumb.
Gang tattoos convey information about affiliation, status, and skills to other members of the prison population. Each member is required to have a tattoo displaying the number of the gang with which they are affiliated.
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