Misdaad en Bendes
You wouldn't say it on first sight, but Cape Town has a lot of gangster-ism.
I first didn't believe it. I knew there was some crime and corruption here... but really, gangsters? Till I started seeing certain numbers on walls in the townships where I worked in that time... 26... 28... this were no house numbers! My husband explained me these numbers are the names of gangs in Cape Town. The most well-known gangs here are the Number Gangs. 'Are you a number?' The 26, the 27 and the 28.
I don't know a lot about gangster-ism, even while I work every week with guys who are belonging to it. The prisons in Cape Town are ruled by these 'bendes'.
The guys in prison struggle to speak about it. A gang has always a clear hierarchy and you never know when someone can hear you. speaking. You don't want to get in trouble by the general of your gang!
The 28 Gang (Son Af) operate most of the time at night and their crime is focused on taking away authority. So rape, murder, humiliation... For example: when you are new in the gang, you become as guy 'the girl' for the gang leader.
The 28s are in conflict with the 26 Gang (Son Op). The 26 gangs are focused on robbery and stealing. They are looking for a crown, what is money.
And between is there the 27 Gang, the murderers.
The tattoos on the skin will tell you a lot about what gang someone belongs and what rank he is. The pictures are often symbolic. This picture here belongs to someone who is part of the 26. By people who are part of the 27's, you see often blood drops (how many murders someone committed) or a gun or something.
Sometimes guys will tell you a little about how it is to be in a gang. For lots of them it feels like their 'family'. It gives a sense of belonging. One guy told me that a being part of a gang feels like being part of a religion. There is a book. There is an own language with own (coded) words. There is a promise that the gang-members will protect each other. But he realized it is all false. He never saw the book and his friends let him down.
Often people in prison are almost forced to become part of a gang, otherwise their lives are very difficult between the four walls of their rooms. You have to realize they often live and sleep with more than 20 people in one room, where one or more gangs are ruling.
(In some prisons they will separate the different gangs and there is a 'brother-room, especially for christian guys. But not in every prison.)
It is very hard to leave a gang. Some say it is almost impossible. It is a big miracle when a gang leader decides to give his heart to the Lord. We always celebrate it when it happens! I remember that one guy had hectic tattoos in his face, but out of his eyes was shining light.
I remember a beautiful interview I had a few months ago. This guy told me he was looking for meaning in his life and he was thinking about becoming a Christian. He was not sure yet, but he started making different choices to respect and to love people. He had a place of influence in his gang. From the inside out he could help and protect people. I pray that by now he has found the Lord.